Hawaii native James Mullis is bringing a taste of Hawaii to Costa Mesa. His restaurant, Fill, is a bakehouse and creamery serving the sweet side of the Islands with true “aloha spirit.” Opening this June in the iconic space formerly occupied by The Golden Truffle, Mullis brings Costa Mesa a taste of his hometown with made-to-order malasadas and house-made ice creams at Fill.
Malasadas were popularized in Hawaii during the 19th century when Portuguese immigrants arrived in Hawaii to support the islands’ growing sugar cane business. Today, these delicate, sugar-dusted confections are an island icon; and to Mullis, they’re reminiscent of the welcoming, diverse culture of Hawaii.
After years of research, Mullis put together a duo of illustrious chefs to bring his vision to life: Lincoln Carson and John Park. Today, Mullis proudly presents Fill, his ode to Hawaii and the embracing culture that shaped his childhood.
“The islands are melting pot of culture, pulling culinary influence from the Philippines, Japan, and Portugal,” comments Mullis, who grew up in the small town of Kaneohe, Hawaii. “We represent the best of Hawaii’s embracing culinary culture at Fill with made-to-order malasadas, artisan fillings, and house-made, small-batch ice cream.”
Organic and GMO-free, Fill’s malasadas are a delicate-yet-doughy Portuguese pastry with a crisp, sugar-dusted exterior (choose from cane, cinnamon, or coconut sugar) which can be served with a variety of fillings including haupia (coconut custard), strawberry jam, Mandarin orange pastry cream, or malted chocolate.
At 800 sq. ft. the restaurant’s interior balances neutrals including white subway tiles and Koa wood wainscoting with a touch of island vibrancy through pops of burnt orange and a bold backlit LED “eatHI” sign. The exterior of the restaurant offers guests a small lanai where they can gather outside.
Fill is located at 1767 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa and will open in June. The restaurant will be open daily from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm.
For more information, visit www.eatfill.com
