Zest Quest Asia
A competition for student chefs and colleges daring to be the best in Asian cuisine. We attract entri
Zest Quest Asia was founded by London based restaurateurs Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala in 2013 in collaboration with the Masterchefs of Great Britain. Their aim was to create an exciting culinary competition that would help raise the profile of Asian cuisine and cookery as a future career for budding chefs in Britain. A groundbreaking step towards battling the growing skills shortage in the UK’s prof
18/12/2023
Remember, you can now get your tickets for the competition final and gala dinner at Hilton London Wembley on Tuesday 27th February.
Tickets here: https://ow.ly/NgUP50QjFOJ
18/12/2023
Thanks to London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism University of West London for supporting us and our student competitors by hosting the final cook-off on 27th Feb.
15/12/2023
Tickets for Zest Quest Asia 2024 are now on sale!
https://ow.ly/6RKJ50QbX3G
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
15/12/2023
“In the past, we have been pleased to welcome many of our industry brethren to the Zest Quest Asia gala dinner. They’ve come to support a competition that recognises talent in Asian cuisine among young student chefs."
Cyrus Todiwala, OBE DL
Tickets: https://ow.ly/L6mV50QfYJW
14/12/2023
The competition has already helped to change the perspective of Asian cookery and cuisine among hundreds of student chefs.
You can also support the competition by buying a ticket to the gala dinner and final in February.
https://ow.ly/nSVz50QfZVv
14/12/2023
The competition has awarded 10 teams composed of 3 students and their tutor with a first-prize trip of a lifetime to an Asian culinary capital.
There, local hosts take them on an educational voyage across the tastes and flavours of Asian cooking.
13/12/2023
Could you be a part of the team?
A look back to the 2020 highlights video.
https://ow.ly/16yH50Q6ppb
Tickets for the final: https://ow.ly/9xuu50QfZCc
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
13/12/2023
As is tradition, the canapes at the drinks reception preceding the gala dinner will be prepared by current Zest Quest Asia champions London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, who spent over a week in Bangkok as their main prize.
Tickets are available here: https://ow.ly/EZkN50QfZFI
12/12/2023
Tickets for Zest Quest Asia 2024 are now on sale.
https://ow.ly/KRMA50QbXVw
12/12/2023
The competition responsible for acquainting many a student chef with the myriad cuisines of Asia - from Indian to Japanese, Filipino to Vietnamese, Thai, Sri Lankan and beyond.
Tickets for the final: https://ow.ly/2Woi50QfZww
11/12/2023
Interest has flowed in from colleges across the UK and, following an ‘Upskill Day’ run by Zest Quest Asia director Murray Chapman, for the second year running a college from Scotland, UHI North, West & Hebrides has fielded a team.
Tickets for the final: https://ow.ly/78Cf50QfZl8
11/12/2023
Hilton has returned as a gold sponsor, offering its 4-star Hilton London Wembley hotel as the venue for the 3-course gala dinner to be prepared by Chef Cyrus on 27th February.
Hilton also offers special rates for those who choose to celebrate the Zest Quest Asia finalists on the night.
08/12/2023
A big thank you to our sponsors.
Tilda Rice | Hilton London Wembley | Sushi College UK | Panasonic UK | Bidfood UK | Cobra Beer
This exciting and essential competition would not be possible without your support.
07/12/2023
Join us on 27th February at the Hilton London Wembley hotel, and thanks to all our sponsors for being there for us.
Tilda Rice Hilton London Wembley Sushi College UK Panasonic UK Bidfood UK Beer
Tickets are available here: https://ow.ly/5s6B50QfYNF
06/12/2023
“In the past, we have been pleased to welcome many of our industry brethren to the Zest Quest Asia gala dinner.
They’ve come to support a competition that recognises talent in Asian cuisine among young student chefs." Cyrus Todiwala, OBE DL
Tickets: https://ow.ly/L6mV50QfYJW
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
06/12/2023
Tickets for Zest Quest Asia 2024 are now on sale!
https://ow.ly/6RKJ50QbX3G
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
05/12/2023
For Tilda, Zest Quest Asia provides a platform to reach, inspire and educate the future generation of chefs.
To aid participating students, Tilda’s foodservice team are on hand to support entrants before, during and after the competition.
Institute of Hospitality
05/12/2023
Do you think you could be a ?
The closing date to enter is very close now.
The very best of luck to each and every entrant.
Details and tickets to the final: https://ow.ly/RRl750Qak3v
04/12/2023
We are so pleased to have the University of West London support the Zest Quest Asia 2024 final cook-off on the 27th February
London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism University of West London
04/12/2023
The Staff Canteen is drumming up support for Zest Quest Asia.
Read about it and get your tickets here too.
https://www.thestaffcanteen.com/post/tickets-now-on-sale-cyrus-todiwala-drums-up-support-for-zest-quest-asia-2024-awards-night-1701086405 #/
04/12/2023
Winners from the 2017 Zest Quest Asia competition
University College Birmingham
University College Birmingham
How to enter: https://www.talkingfood.co.uk/zqa
A Passion To Inspire
Institute of Hospitality
Gina Consing McAdam
Cyrus Todiwala
The Craft Guild of Chefs
The Master Chefs of Great Britain
01/12/2023
The deadline for submission of entries is this Friday.
Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, 4th Jan 2024.
Good luck to all who have entered.
01/12/2023
Responsible for acquainting many a student chef with the myriad cuisines of Asia - from Indian to Japanese, Filipino to Vietnamese, Thai, Sri Lankan and beyond - is embarking on its eleventh year with the launch of Zest Quest Asia 2024.
Tickets: https://ow.ly/4b1s50Qc4gt
01/12/2023
"Pervin and I have seen how incrementally, through the years, the competition has made inroads. More and more colleges seem to be encouraging their students and tutors to take Asian cuisine seriously." Cyrus Todiwala
30/11/2023
Thanks to all our sponsors for their support and to UWL for hosting the final cook-off on 27th Feb.
Tilda Rice Hilton London Wembley Sushi College UK Panasonic UK Bidfood UK Cobra Beer London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism University of West London
30/11/2023
The closing date for entries is imminent, and we are looking forward to the final cook-off at the University of West London.
Get your tickets before they are gone.
https://ow.ly/fVbN50QcT8R
London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism University of West London A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
29/11/2023
Zest Quest Asia was created in 2013 with the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain to lift the profile of Asian food among budding chefs enrolled in full-time in colleges across the country. Since then, the annual competition has awarded 10 teams composed of three students and their tutor with a first prize trip of a lifetime to an Asian culinary capital.
Find out how to enter here: https://www.talkingfood.co.uk/zqa
Passion To Inspire
of Hosp
Consing McAdam
Todiwala
Craft Guild of Chefs
Master Chefs of Great Britain
29/11/2023
“We are delighted to be supporting Zest Quest Asia 2024.
Developing and nurturing young talent across the hospitality industry is what the Institute of Hospitality stands for, so we are delighted to provide this year’s finalists with membership to help support them by providing access to a wealth of resources, such as our mentoring programme.
Zest Quest Asia provides young chefs with an incredible opportunity to develop themselves, so I would encourage any young chef to jump at this opportunity and apply.” Robert Richardson FIH MI, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality
How to apply: https://www.talkingfood.co.uk/zqa
28/11/2023
28/11/2023
Tickets are now on sale for Zest Quest Asia 2024
https://ow.ly/6RKJ50QbX3G
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
28/11/2023
Tickets are now on sale for Zest Quest Asia 2024
https://ow.ly/KRMA50QbXVw
Tilda Rice Hilton London Wembley Sushi College UK Panasonic UK Bidfood UK Cobra Beer
28/11/2023
Zest Quest Asia Gold sponsor Tilda, provides a platform to reach, inspire and educate the future generation of chefs.
To aid participating students, Tilda’s foodservice team are on hand to support entrants before, during and after the competition.
Institute of Hospitality
27/11/2023
ZEST QUEST ASIA 2024 NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Read more: https://ow.ly/a50450Qakzk
The closing date for applications is approaching soon!
27/11/2023
Do you think you could be a ?
There is still time to get your entry in for Zest Quest Asia 2024.
Closing date is 8th December!
Details: https://ow.ly/RRl750Qak3v
24/11/2023
Some of the past winners of the Zest Quest Asia competition.
https://ow.ly/rcB750Q6V8g
Would you like to take part?
Find out more: https://ow.ly/NaFB50Q6VcL
A Passion To Inspire Institute of Hospitality Gina Consing McAdam Cyrus Todiwala The Craft Guild of Chefs The Master Chefs of Great Britain
Zest Quest Asia: Congratulations University College Birmingham!
Although Covid-19 has disrupted their plans for now, our Zest Quest Asia 2020 champions, University College Birmingham, won a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, where they were meant to be guests of Dusit International, Thailand’s premier 5-star hotel and resorts company. A fabulous training programme and cultural schedule had been planned for John Almeida, Darottya Kalo and Goncalo Machado, including structured training in Thai cuisine and the chance to meet five of the country’s top chefs in their Michelin-starred restaurants. We hope that when we find ourselves in the position to, our winners will be able to enjoy the fruits of their excellent performance during last February’s finals.
Zest Quest Asia was founded by London-based restaurateurs Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala in 2013 with the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. Their aim was to create a groundbreaking student culinary competition that would help raise the profile of Asian cuisine and cookery as a future career for budding chefs in Britain. A step towards battling the growing skills shortage in the UK’s professional Asian kitchens, one of its long-term goals has always been to embed classical Asian cookery in the school and college curriculum.
So far, 7 colleges represented by a team of 3 and their tutor have won the Zest Quest Asia title, beating other finalists at a cook off and knowledge presentation. Each year the winners enjoy at least a week in an exciting Asian culinary capital.
Zest Quest Asia enjoys invaluable support from many corners of the hospitality and catering industry. Judging the competition are some of the industry’s leading chefs, and sponsorship in cash and kind have come from great friends, both individuals and companies, who share Zest Quest Asia’s mission to make a difference. Special guests at the annual Zest Quest Asia Gala Dinner have included Ching He-Huang, Andrew Wong, Ken Hom OBE, and Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE. For two years, the evening has been hosted by BBC journalist and food writer Nigel Barden. Every year, the Gala Dinner is an opportunity for industry and education to come together to celebrate the talent, ambition and hard work of young student chefs who dare to be the best in Asian cuisine.
Zest Quest Asia. Competing is only the beginning.
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