Embracing the season

Words by Jude Kereama
Images by Frankie Thomas

Great British Menu banquet chef, Chef Patron Jude Kereama, celebrates the arrival of summer and looks to an exciting season ahead at his restaurants Kota and Kota Kai.

In the heart of Porthleven’s picturesque harbour, Kota Kai has wonderful views and an outdoor dining terrace area for those sunny days. Kota Kai is embracing the season with fresh flavours, a summer wine list and new cocktails. We will also be having barbecue events happening on the green with our chefs cooking up an exciting and different style of cuisine. Dishes from the barbecue like scallops with ponzu citrus butter and XO chilli crunch, Octopus salad with Aji Rojo, marinated grilled bavette steak taco with salsa Fresca and pickled chillies, will be sure to tantalise the taste buds. The launch of our every day £5 happy hour on the green this summer between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, will be a great way to relax in the sunshine after a day on the beach. We will have a selection of some organic wines, beer and cocktails to enjoy while the sun goes down and dinner time approaches.

Ash and his bar team have created a summer cocktail list full of refreshing twists, such as a Lemongrass Mojito, Pineapple Chilli Margarita, Coconut Negroni and a Miso Butter Old Fashioned to name just a few. Our seasonal wine list has been carefully curated to suit summer flavours with a great selection of rosé, bubbles, white and light red wines. There is even a selection of more full-bodied reds to match the barbecue dishes too.

Myself and Head Chef Ryan Venning have  created a summer menu designed to capture local seasonal produce, while keeping our signature global-inspired influences. From vibrant seafood dishes to bold, flavour-packed small plates, snacks, Philip Warren Butcher’s meats and colourful vegetarian dishes, the summer menu is a celebration of the best produce we can find in Cornwall. Expect day-boat fish, mussels, scallops, lobster, crab, vegetables and meat dishes enhanced with Asian flavours. We also have a varied and exciting brunch menu available throughout summer with some classic dishes such as pancakes, French toast, smoked salmon bagel, mixed up with Roti John (Malaysian breakfast roll) and a smoked bacon and 63-degree egg ramen – a great way to kick start your day along with some breakfast cocktails such as a Bloody Maria, Grapefruit Paloma or maybe a Marmalade Daiquiri.

For families, summer at Kota Kai means more than just food. Our warm, laid-back atmosphere makes us the ideal spot for everyone. Kids will love our menu designed just for them and parents can unwind knowing that good times are on the menu for all ages. The lounge is also a lovely place for all to relax and play board games on those less-sunnier days. Even well-behaved dogs are welcome during the daytime. If you’re thinking of planning a celebration, we can seat up to 130 guests in the whole restaurant or up to 30 in a private room. The outside terrace can seat up to 60 people – just call or email for any enquiries.

Open for our 20th year, Kota has undergone a big revamp in 2025, after a refurbishment that has seen a new bar area created for wine tasting and cocktails, new furniture and a new colour scheme, Kota has also had a transformation in the kitchen with a new style of menu, inspired by the Basque region’s PinXos and their food culture of all day eating with a variety of dishes served in different portion sizes. This has led to a buzzy, fun service style delivered by Elle and her friendly front of house team. Kota’s kitchen is headed by Ross Sloan who I have worked with for many years and our dishes still have that touch of Kota’s subtle Asian influences. For example, Spanish tortilla with fresh crab, dashi mayonnaise and spring onion or fish served with a Mouclade sauce infused with Thai yellow curry flavours, green apple and mussels. The new menu has different sections in the form of snacks, PinXos and specials that are designed to share with your table. For those who enjoyed our tasting menu, there’s still a chef’s daily six-course menu that changes depending on what ingredients arrive through our kitchen door, and there will always be an uber-seasonal dish on the menu. 

The ever-changing ingredients of the season will always be reflected in Kota’s menus. Ingredients such as hand-dived scallops, shellfish, lobsters, crab and day-boat fish come together with organic vegetables and the best meats to a menu full of creativity and passion. The same applies to the foraged ingredients in our dishes which we gather from nearby woods, pastures, sea and coast to enhance each mouthful. There are always plenty of seafood dishes on the menu and vegetarians are really well catered for with a menu full of the best ingredients. Don’t worry, carnivores are well looked after too with carefully sourced, top- quality meats with full provenance from Philip Warren Butchers who are, in my opinion, the best in the UK. There is a separate children’s menu, or we have dishes available from our normal menu for the more adventurous.

Every course is perfectly matched with a wine recommendation from sommelier Dan, taken from our list of fantastic wines from around the world. Cocktails are a must at Kota with aperitifs such as a Kota Vesper Martini which uses an oyster-infused local gin from Saint Sithney, a Cornish Bramble, or perhaps an Americano using local Knightor Rosé Vermouth to kick off your evening. We have Budvar on tap and local beers from Sharps forming part of our beer-matching courses to go with our chef’s daily menu. Those who like a digestif have a myriad of options to choose from… if you can get past our excellent Espresso Martini that is!

Kota is a wonderful new space that is also ideal for private hire as it seats up to 50 people. So, however and wherever you dine with us this season, we look forward to welcoming you.

KOTA & Kota Kai
01326 562407
01326 727707
www.kotarestaurant.co.uk
www.kotakai.co.uk