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Loughborough College wins coveted spot at Zest Quest Asia 2020 national final

Posted: 14th January 2020 - 5:51pm
Loughborough College wins coveted spot at Zest Quest Asia 2020 national final

Loughborough College is bound for Hilton London after winning a coveted place in the Zest Quest Asia 2020 finals.

Hospitality and Catering students Grace McGreal, Chandni Khatri and Brannnon Underwood will line up for the competition founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala in collaboration with the Master Chefs of Great Britain and which recognises outstanding talent, knowledge and understanding of Asian cuisine. The top prize is being kept a closely-guarded secret but will be a seven-day cultural and education trip – with previous destinations including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The trio were chosen from young chefs across the country to join five other teams for a live cook off at Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen, Hilton’s signature restaurant at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, before the winners are announced at a Gala Dinner and Awards Night.

“This was a rigorous selection process involving catering students from across the UK. It is an enormous achievement for Grace, Chandni and Brannon to have reached the final,” said Loughborough College chef lecturer and hospitality and catering lead Darren Creed.

“They created an authentic Asian menu using sustainable, British ingredients which aims, over three courses, to celebrate the traditional style of Gujarati cooking while incorporating more cosmopolitan ingredients now being used in the cuisine. All three students have shown so much passion and enthusiasm and are working incredibly hard to refine their dishes before the cook-off.”

“I was intrigued by the brief and feel this is a great way to intertwine British and Asian heritage,” says Chandni. “I am a Gujarati and grew up around lots of Asian food and even remember pulling up a chair to my grandad’s stove, aged four, where he would have me stand alongside him as he told me what to do and supervised … Ever since I would love to watch as my family elders cook and asked many questions … which has all contributed to my love for Asian cuisine.”

In contrast, Brannon adds that he hasn’t had much experience with Indian food but knew the competition would allow him to learn. “The experience I have had from the tastings, the research, the history, the Indian chefs we have spoken to has already been one of the best times I have had at college.”

“I was really excited to be entering and have learnt so much,” said Grace. In fact, she has been so inspired by the competition, she is hoping to work in a local Indian restaurant to further expand the knowledge she has already gained.

The Zest Quest Asia final cook off, Gala Dinner and Awards Night will be held on Friday 7 February 2020

Pictured: (from left) Loughborough College’s Grace McGreal, Brannon Underwood and Chandni Khatri have reached the Zest Quest Asia 2020 national finals