Jared Mouton, General Manager
When Jared Mouton first moved to Lexington, he drove around the brand-new Summit at the Fritz Farm and stepped into Honeywood on a whim. He was immediately captivated by its beautifully-designed, art-filled interior and fell in love with the restaurant’s culture of respect for local food and local farmers.
Having followed his fiancee to Lexington for grad school, Jared joined our Honeywood team before resuming his own studies. He’s wrapping up a degree in digital media design and was recently promoted to general manager at Honeywood.
Jared is soft-spoken with expressive eyes; he’s a little uncomfortable talking about himself. His shyness might seem out of place in the restaurant world but he loves it.
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to work in restaurants and once I got into it, I developed a love of food. The pace of the industry ~ it’s just always on your toes. Fast-paced. The hospitality aspect; the history of hospitality; the way (founder and owner) Ouita Michel looks at good food, good drink, good service.”
Jared’s no stranger to good food, good drink or good service; he’s from Abbieville, La., and moved to Lafayette, La., right out of high school, bussing tables and taking classes at the University of Louisiana.
He still feels a little nostalgic for the Florida Fishing Cottage dish from Honeywood’s original menu and likes to cook crawfish étoufée for a taste of home. His favorite cocktail is the Honeywood. “It’s such an unanticipatedly good combination”
For a long time, Jared’s stunning food shots graced Honeywood’s social media feed. Not surprisingly, he’s fascinated by the intersections linking art of all kinds.
When not greeting guests at Honeywood, Jared loves exploring Lexington with his camera, looking for beautifully unexpected images. Or playing tennis. Or having fun with his adopted dogs Watson and Greta. And says he’s always curious to find out what’s going to happen next.