"A hugely organised, complex, involved and challenging competition."- Lewis Walker, Head of Department, College of Food, University College Birmingham
Zest Quest Asia - the Competition
Zest Quest Asia was launched eleven years ago, the brainchild of chef and restaurateur Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL and his wife Pervin, who had long dreamed of a student culinary competition focussed solely on Asian cuisine. With the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain and an organising committee made up of hospitality professionals working as volunteers, Cyrus and Pervin designed the competition with two aims: a) to help budding chefs learn more about Asian cooking and cuisine - something not many colleges to this day offer on the curriculum - to the point where they might a career in Asian food and hospitality; and b) to make sure that there would be enough chefs in the future equipped to produce Asian food and cook Asian dishes.
The rules of the competition are as demanding today as they were at the beginning, combining a live cook-off with a rigorous knowledge presentation. So far, it has been won by teams from eight colleges across the UK, but there are also smaller team prizes for those who can prove the best commitment to sustainability, best use of ingredients, and best teamwork. Competitors must have permanent residency in the UK, be full-time students, and must be part of a team of three, supervised by their college tutor. For their efforts, the winning team scoops a brilliant, life-changing first prize of a minimum week long trip to Asia, where Zest Quest Asia covers flight, lodging and a wealth of money-can't-buy culinary-based experiences.
"I am so delighted to be supporting Zest Quest Asia. I am a huge fan of Chef Cyrus and Pervin. I share their passion and vision to inspire young talent in the kitchen. To broader their understanding and exploration of Asian cuisine, to further their future in food, so that they may carry the torch for Asian food culture in the UK." - Ching He Huang, TV chef and cookery writer
We know Zest Quest Asia is playing a part, however small, in tackling the acute shortage of skilled chefs in commercial and industrial kitchens. A number of former competitors have chosen to work in Asian restaurants upon graduating from college. But perhaps most of all, it is the incredible opportunity Zest Quest Asia offers students to show off their talent and ambition – using these to accomplish something that will not only give them a head start in their careers, but something they can treasure for the rest of their lives.
Why we need your support
So far, we have been able to afford to send, through sponsorship and the proceeds of ticket sales to our awards dinners - as well as by keeping costs as low as possible - students to Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines where they have cooked with top Asian chefs, visited food markets and attended masterclasses at notable Asian restaurants. In most, if not all cases, such an experience would have been beyond our young chefs’ imaginations. We so want these experiences to continue, but because of the current economy, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure sponsorship or to raise enough funds through ticket sales alone. These are our two main sources of revenue.
The main prize is always an educational trip of a lifetime; students immerse themselves not just in food, but in a whole new culture. We are appealing for support to continue to offer this prize. Zest Quest Asia is THE student culinary competition that every year, since 2013, has inspired budding chefs in UK colleges to discover and experience the joys of Asian cuisine and cooking. Zest Quest Asia has attracted the participation of some of the most talented students - nearly 200 have competed since we first launched the competition - boosting their confidence as they discover new worlds. The trip brings our slogan "Competing is Only the Beginning" to life.
"It was somewhat interesting to see the preparation of livestock on the streets. We witnessed a live fish being scaled and killed, which was certainly incredible to see. We also saw a collection of raw ingredients, such as a wild variety of dried mushrooms and spices. This market was certainly an experience that we will all treasure." - Student from University of West London, on their trip to Hanoi.
Please help us continue to make Zest Quest Asia the competition chefs aspire to enter, and to win. The main prize is such a powerful motivator.