The Master Chefs of Great Britain launch Zest Quest Asia 2014

Cyrus Todiwala, chef-patron of four London restaurants including the recently launched Assado, has launched Zest Quest Asia a competition organised by The Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) aimed at chefs who are passionate about a career in Asian cuisine.

"Zest is another word for passion and desire, and we want home grown British chefs to develop a real yearning, a true quest, to learn more about Asia and its cuisine. By Asia we mean not just India and the Sub-continent, but countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines," said Todiwala.

"Asia's culture is food-centric, and both the people and what they eat travel well around the world. Asians never outgrow a love of their own cuisine, wherever they happen to go. And there is a real and growing affluence among Asian communities around the world. If you want to make a living as a chef in the UK, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more valuable niche than Asian food," he added.

Students drawn from catering colleges across the UK will be required to cook a four-course Pan Asian menu and immediately afterwards make a presentation designed to highlight their knowledge of Asia and such aspects as the evolution of international cuisines as well as sustainability.

The closing date for entries for the 2014 Zest Quest Asia competition is 20 June 2014 with the winners announced at a gala dinner to be held at the Hilton London Heathrow T5 in October 2014.

For entry forms contact Sue McGeever at masterchefs@msn.com