Final call for Zest Quest Asia 2019 entries

Chef Cyrus Todiwala is urging colleges across the UK to submit their entries to Zest Quest Asia 2019, the student competition designed to recognise and celebrate excellence in Asian cookery and cuisine.

Now on its sixth year, Zest Quest Asia was founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala, owners of Café Spice Namaste and Mr Todiwala's Kitchen, in collaboration with the Master Chefs of Great Britain.

Since launching the 2019 competition in the spring, expressions of interest from some 50 colleges have been received, with entries expected from a number of previous winners. Because it aims to cultivate ‘home grown' talent in Asian cuisine, one of Zest Quest Asia's iron-clad rules is that students who enter must have permanent residency status in the UK.

Apart from the first prize of a week-long, once-in-a-lifetime educational trip to an Asian culinary destination, shortlisted teams will have the chance to vie for prizes in a number of special categories, including ‘Dish of the Day', ‘Best Presented Menu', ‘Best Use of Rice', ‘Least Food Wasted', and ‘Best Use of Living Ingredients'.

Prizes include coveted experiences, in the UK and abroad, designed to enrich their understanding of the produce, ingredients, techniques and innovations involved in Asian cooking and dining cultures.

The winners will be announced at the Gala Evening and Awards Dinner to be held at the Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 on 8 February 2019, following a cook-off and knowledge presentation at the hotel's signature restaurant, Mr Todiwala's Kitchen.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 26 October 2018. For more information and to enter go to www.zestquestasia.com.
Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).