Zest Quest Asia 2025 reveals eight finalist colleges

Students from eight UK colleges will be competing in the finals of Asian cooking competition Zest Quest Asia, where the victorious team will win an educational trip to Asia.

This year the competition, co-founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala with the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain, will be contested by Edinburgh College, Loughborough College, Milton Keynes College, New College Durham, North Hertfordshire College, Sheffield College, University College Birmingham and University of West London.

The students, comprising three to a team, will be expected to excel in a knowledge presentation and live cook-off at the University of West London on 3-4 April. To reach the finals, each team was asked to create a five-minute video illustrating why they had chosen their particular Asian menu and offering a preview of their four-course menu entry, with the display of actual dishes an option.

The winners will be announced during a gala dinner at the Hilton London Wembley on 4 April from 6pm-10.30pm.

Cyrus Todiwala said: “In several Asian cultures, eight is considered a lucky number, so we’re delighted that this year for the first time we have chosen eight finalist teams who will vie for the big prize.

“This year’s entries include dishes from Japan, Korea, Persia, Singapore, Vietnam, India and Thailand. The inspiration is palpable – may the best team win. In our uncertain world, I am heartened to see how food remains a great unifier, bridging the gap between cultures and fostering goodwill and kindness.”

This year, the Zest Quest Asia organisers introduced a financial support scheme for teams entering the contest. The grants of £1,000 were available for up to six colleges fulfilling the criteria and aimed to increase the number of smaller colleges that were able to enter.

Last year’s winner was Sheffield College, which secured a trip to New Delhi, India, after impressing judges with a Filipino-inspired menu.