Chef Norimasa Kosaka Returns to TAPASAKE Maldives for Collaborative Dining Events

TAPASAKE Maldives at One&Only Reethi Rah will host Japanese owner chef Norimasa Kosaka for a series of dining events in March 2026, marking a professional reunion with resident chef Ahmed Jameel.

The programme includes a four-hands dining experience on March 27 and a dedicated sushi evening on March 29, both to be held during evening service hours. The collaboration brings together two chefs who previously worked side by side at TAPASAKE, with Chef Jameel having developed his culinary foundation under Kosaka’s mentorship.

Chef Kosaka, who was part of TAPASAKE between 2007 and 2009, now operates Mimasaka NORIMASA in Okayama, Japan, focusing on modern Japanese cuisine with French elements. His international experience spans more than a decade, with expertise in both sushi and hot dishes. Chef Jameel, meanwhile, integrates traditional and contemporary Japanese techniques with broader Mediterranean influences in his approach.

The menu for the four-hands dinner will reflect the chefs’ individual styles, featuring dishes such as sashimi tartare, slow-steamed abalone with lobster and a truffle-crusted sea bass with miso. A collaborative wagyu dish will also form part of the experience.

The events highlight TAPASAKE’s evolution from a traditional Japanese concept to a more globally influenced dining destination, incorporating elements from Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisines while maintaining its core identity.