Hospitality and Catering Students Win Zest Quest Asia 2025 National Competition

A group of talented Hospitality and Catering students have claimed the top prize at the prestigious Zest Quest Asia 2025 competition, securing the coveted first-place title, and a culinary tour of Hong Kong.

The team, consisting of learners Tom Brassington, Lewis McLeman, and Cam McGinty also took home the awards for Best Designed Menu, and the Murray Chapman Wastage Award. 

The competition, founded by celebrated chefs Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala, highlights the skills of young chefs, and offers them a chance to showcase their understanding of Asian culinary traditions. This year’s event saw teams from top UK colleges competing in the finals, which took place at the University of West London and culminated in a gala dinner at the Hilton London Wembley.

The Loughborough College team stood out with a three-course menu that celebrated the diverse flavours of Korean cuisine, featuring an amuse bouche of kimchi and sea bream, a chilled soy bean soup for starter, a main of the traditional Korean bibimbap, and a dessert inspired by the famous dalgona cookie. The judges were particularly impressed with the team's ability to blend traditional techniques with modern twists, making their menu both innovative and authentic.

Speaking on social media, Level 3 Patisserie and Confectionery student Cam shared: “This has been an amazing opportunity, and I’m grateful to have shared it with two of my friends Lewis and Tom, and my lecturers Grace McGreal and Mark Fletcher. We couldn’t have done it without their support, and we’re absolutely ecstatic to be going to Hong Kong!”

As winners of Zest Quest Asia 2025, the team will now embark on an educational culinary tour of Hong Kong, where they will have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in authentic kitchens and further develop their culinary skills.

Reflecting on the team’s outstanding achievements, Curriculum Manager for Hospitality and Catering, Darren Creed praised Team Loughborough, sharing: “Cam, Tom, and Lewis designed an incredible menu, so full flavoured and unique. It means so much to us all to see them win three awards, and the Murray Chapman Award in particular means a to me. Murray played a huge part in my own career, so to have the Loughborough College Team win the first inaugural award named after him is very special. 

“I’m so pleased for the team, and also their lecturer and mentor Grace. Grace entered Zest Quest Asia in 2010, when she was still a student at the College, so to see her journey to today, mentoring the winning team, is amazing.”