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In a stunning 300-year-old building right on Porthleven harbour, this New Zealand-born chef has created one of Cornwall’s most acclaimed culinary destinations through a unique fusion of cultures and flavours. What makes Jude Kereama’s story so compelling? He’s half Maori, quarter Chinese and quarter Malaysian, which shows in his cooking style: a real mash up of flavours and inspirations inspired by his mother’s cooking and fresh seasonal local Cornish produce.
After winning awards in both London and Auckland, Jude opened Kota (meaning ‘shellfish’ in Maori) in 2006 to critical acclaim, followed by Kota Kai in 2011 to provide a family-friendly option with integrity. An avid forager, you can often spot Jude gathering wild ingredients from the cliffs and fields around Porthleven, dedication that earned him the highly coveted ‘Best Chef’ in the Trencherman’s Awards for 2019.
Having appeared in four series of The Great British Menu, Jude has proved to be one of the most popular figures in the competition, reaching the final banquet in 2021. His innovative dishes like ‘Life in a Rock Pool’ and recent evolution to Cornish pinxos, celebrating the connection between Cornwall and the Basque country that shares maritime links, linguistic resilience, and industrial history, showcase his creative culinary vision.
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