Chef News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala have announced the finalists for the 13th annual Zest Quest Asia competition, naming eight colleges from Wales to London. The lucky 8 – always an auspicious number for the Chinese – are: Cheshire College – South and West; Coleg Llandrillo; Milton Keynes College; North Hertfordshire College; Oaklands College; The Sheffield College; University College Birmingham and University of West London.
Zest Quest Asia, the brainchild of Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala, has helped raise the popularity of Asian cuisine and cooking among full-time student chefs since it was first launched in 2013 with the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain.
To motivate colleges to field student teams in a rigorous contest that highlights knowledge and technical skills, while immersing the talented and ambitious in Asia’s exquisite and demanding culinary traditions, Zest Quest Asia dangles a first prize of a trip of a lifetime to a secret Asian destination. The location is a closely guarded until the Gala Evening and Awards Dinner, which this year will be held on Friday, 10th April 2026 at the Hilton London Wembley. Last year’s winners, Loughborough College, travelled to Hong Kong and mainland China, compliments of manufacturer of premium Asian condiments, Lee Kum Kee, which has renewed its headline sponsorship of Zest Quest Asia for this year.
Having reached the finals, the eight teams must now impress the judges with a 15–20-minute knowledge presentation on Thursday, 9th April, followed by a live cook off on 10th April, both to take place at the University of West London. Standards for both events are rigorous, with the students allowed only 2 hours to produce a four-course meal for four covers. Marking criteria for the live-cook off include performance in costing; wastage; use of sponsors’ products; workmanship hygiene, timings; authenticity of dishes; presentation of dishes; taste and flavour; and teamwork. The greatest weight is given to the team presentation, highlighting the importance of knowing and understanding the cuisine.
Cyrus Todiwala said, “This year we had over 40 entries for Zest Quest Asia. The number just grows every year. Zest Quest Asia is arguably the most prestigious culinary competition of its kind, and Pervin and I are bowled over by how committed the competitors have been and how well the competition has been run in the last few years. It’s a credit to our team, but also a pat on the back of our sponsors who have supported us so deeply in bridging the gap between the classroom and Asian kitchens as they operate today. I hope, as in past years, the whole industry will support us by attending the Gala Dinner and Awards Night on 10th April and cheer on the finalists. They have already done so well to get this far.
“I would also like to express our wholehearted thanks to the Savoy Educational Trust, Carluccio Foundation and Worshipful Company of Cooks for offering funding support where necessary to colleges who have made it to the finals.”
Tickets are now available for the Gala Dinner and Awards Night at the Hilton London Wembley on Friday, 10th April 2026.
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