Sheffield College Students To Compete In Zest Quest Asia National Final

A team of Sheffield College students is through to the finals of a national catering competition.

Trainee chefs Morgan Hopkinson, 18, Tom Lake, 18, and Mia Leigh, 18, will compete in Zest Quest Asia 2018 next week. The finalists will showcase their skills, knowledge and cooking techniques in a range of Asian cuisines on February 12th.

Mia said: “I can’t wait for the competition, I’m really excited about taking part.”  Morgan commented: “Becoming a successful chef involves continually learning, to work your way up to the top. This competition will teach me how to perform under pressure, and also develop my technical skills.”

Tom added: “I’ve competed in national catering competitions before and I’m looking forward to us working as a team and doing our best. Once you get started, you become so absorbed in what you’re doing that you forget about feeling nervous.”

The students are completing the Professional Chef’s Diploma at Level 3. They have been mentored by catering tutor Joe Hunt, who is also Production Chef at the Silver Plate Restaurant at the College’s City campus on Granville Road.

Joe said: “I’m so proud of our students. Taking part in a high profile competition, backed by one of country’s leading chefs, provides them with a chance to showcase their talent and boosts their skills, industry contacts and career prospects.”

The two-hour cook-off will be held in Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen, the signature restaurant of gold sponsor Hilton London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. Competitors will also take part in a question and answer session with the judges. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on the evening of February 12th.

Zest Quest Asia was set up by restaurateurs Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala, with the support of The Master Chefs of Great Britain, to help combat skills shortages and gaps in the knowledge of traditional Asian cookery.

The College is one of six teams to get through. The other teams taking part are Colchester Institute, North Hertfordshire College, Sheffield Hallam University, University of West London and Westminster Kingsway College.

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