The menu, heavily inspired by Goan-Portuguese culinary traditions, will highlight ingredients and produce donated by suppliers loyal to the Zest Quest Asia cause.

The student competition was founded in 2013 by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala in collaboration with the Master Chefs of Great Britain to help cultivate talent, knowledge and understanding of Asian cuisines.

Six colleges have been chosen to compete in the final cook-off, to be held earlier in the day: Loughborough College, New City College, Sheffield College, University of West London, University College Birmingham and North Hertfordshire College.

Before the dinner, a sumptuous drinks reception hosted by current Zest Quest Asia champions, University of West London, will feature canapes with flavours drawn from their recent prize-winning trip to the Philippines.

Cyrus Todiwala told us: “I’ve prepared a menu that I hope attendees of our 7th Zest Quest Asia Gala Dinner & Awards Night will find both nourishing and captivating. It is an intricate combination of East meets West, using some very fine quality, seasonal ingredients. In the end, the evening is a celebration and I hope my menu will be judged worthy of all the effort and commitment put in by the colleges and students, as well as the suppliers and sponsors who have thrown their weight behind Zest Quest Asia. I owe it to them, just as the finalists owe it to themselves to do their best to win this competition.”

Zest Quest Asia Gala Dinner & Awards Night Menu

FIRST COURSE

• ESTILO DE BOMBAIYYA CREMEU A GALINHA EN PASTELARIA – Bombay style creamed chicken in puff pastry
• SMOKED DUCK AND HAGGIS SAMOSA WITH RICE
• KEDGREE CROQUETTE – Croquette of Arbroath Smoked Haddock blended with rice

SECOND COURSE

• PARSEE LAMB BIRYANI PATTICE – Parsee style Lamb biryani patty filled with the lamb
• QUEIJO COUVE ARROZ E COGUMELO COM FOLHA DE BANANA – Banana leaf filled with cauliflower, rice cheese & mushrooms with mixed nuts and sultanas
• TURKEY CHAAZAAN – Shredded turkey tossed with glass noodles seasoned with garlic, soy, red chilli oil, coriander and soy

MAIN COURSE

• FEIJOADA COM ARROZ – Hot Portuguese choriso with kidney beans blended with Goan style pork stew and rice
• TART OF WINTER VEGETABLE MEDLEY
• CURRY DE COCO VERDE CLARO – Quenelle of Light green coconut curry

Pre-Dessert Sorbet

SOUR CHERRY

DESSERT

Dessert by Chef Jerome Dreux

“We encourage all who are in our industry that share our vision to nurture and cultivate young talent to support this event.”

Schedule of the night: (Dress code: smart casual)

18:45 – Drinks Reception

19:30 – Dinner

11:00 – Carriages

Tickets are £90 per person or £850 for a table of 10.

Book your tickets here.

If you wish to book accommodation for the event, please click here to receive the agreed rates starting from £80 bed and breakfast.