Open to catering colleges across the country, this year’s finalists – who will compete in a live cook off next February - are as below:
- Colchester Institute
- Farnborough College of Technology
- New City College
- North Hertfordshire College
- University of West London
- Westminster Kingsway College
In its fifth year, the competition aims to ‘raise the profile of Asian cuisine among aspirant student chefs’ and was co-founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala – chef proprietors of Café Spice Namasté (London).
The winning three-man team will be rewarded an educational and cultural
trip to a ‘major’ Asian city.
Cyrus said: ‘One of the difficulties of judging a competition like Zest Quest Asia is that we get some truly impressive entries, and it’s a challenge for us judges to come up with a shortlist.
“But my fellow judges and I would like to thank and express our admiration for all the colleges that submitted entries as this showed their ambition to go beyond what is sometimes expected of them.
“Best of luck and congratulations to the finalists. We expect great things from all of you in (in the final) February next year.”
Chairman of judges and of the Craft Guild of Chefs, Andrew Bennett, added: ‘It was a tough decision and the colleges that got through to the final now have the opportunity to show they truly have the zest for Asian cuisine.
“We hope that our colleagues in industry and their friends will join us in cheering on the students, their tutors, supportive colleges and families at the Zest Quest Asia Gala Dinner and Awards Night.”
The winners will be announced on 4 February at the Zest Quest Asia 2019 Gala Dinner and Awards, following that day’s live final.