A Taste of Love from Nagasaki, Japan
This February, KEN by Kamatsuda brings the Koi-Minori Strawberry Experience to Dubai, introducing a limited-time showcase centred on premium strawberries cultivated in Nagasaki Prefecture, one of Japan’s most respected strawberry-growing regions.
Available from 6 February 2026 until the end of the month, the experience will be offered during dinner service only at KEN by Kamatsuda. The seasonal feature reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of bringing Japan’s finest ingredients to the world, shaped by Chef Ken Kamatsuda’s long-standing connection with Nagasaki and its producers.
At the heart of the experience is Koi-Minori, a premium modern strawberry variety developed and registered in recent years in Nagasaki Prefecture. Its name combines “Koi” (love) and “Minori” (ripening or harvest), making it a natural fit for the Valentine’s season. With its low acidity and gentle sweetness, Koi-Minori lends itself easily to refined cooking, allowing flavours to remain clean and well balanced. Its firm texture and fragrant aroma make it particularly suited to the carefully composed, premium dishes created in KEN by Kamatsuda’s kitchen.
For the occasion, KEN by Kamatsuda will present a selection of strawberry-focused creations across savoury, dessert, and beverage formats, each designed to let the ingredient take centre stage. A new appetiser, Carpaccio of Matsusaka Beef and Koi-Minori Strawberry, will also be introduced, offering a delicate balance between sweetness and savoury depth. Guests may enjoy the strawberry dishes either as part of the omakase course or as à la carte selections.
KEN by Kamatsuda’s pastry team will present three strawberry-focused creations, each designed to showcase the natural sweetness and fragrance of the Koi-Minori variety. Guests can look forward to a Strawberry Parfait, a refined Strawberry Tart, and a delicate Strawberry Daifuku, offering a balance of texture, freshness, and understated sweetness to conclude the experience.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ken Kamatsuda, Owner-Chef of KEN by Kamatsuda, said, “Nagasaki is known in Japan for the care given to its produce. Through this seasonal feature, we hope to present the true character of these strawberries and share an authentic expression of Japan’s seasons with our guests in Dubai.”
A representative from Nagasaki Prefecture added, “Nagasaki strawberries are valued for their fragrance, sweetness, and balance. We are pleased to introduce them to Dubai through this collaboration with KEN by Kamatsuda and to share a taste of our region with an international audience.”
Through this seasonal feature, KEN by Kamatsuda continues its focus on presenting Japanese ingredients in a way that respects origin and seasonality. The collaboration with Nagasaki Prefecture offers diners in Dubai a considered introduction to one of Japan’s prized strawberry varieties, interpreted through the restaurant’s omakase philosophy.
For more info visit kenbykamatsuda.ae
For reservations call +971 4 5704316, WhatsApp on +971 58 556 2577 or email at info@kenbykamatsuda.ae
