On the trip, winners Hugo Montgomery, Peter Price and Alexander McLaren from University College Birmingham learned how to prepare sushi and kaiseki from Tokyo Hilton’s head chefs and travelled to Osaka and Kobe to visit a beef farm, followed by a Wagyu beef dinner.

The winners were also given a tour of Panasonic’s technology centre.

Chef lecturer Lewis Walker said: “I cant’ deny we worked hard to win this complex, involved and challenging competition but it has most definitely been worth it and we have to thank Panasonic hugely for their generosity.

“There are so many learnings that we will take away from this experience, too many to mention, but perseverance pays.”

The University College Birmingham team won the title on February 14 after executing a menu, which included Sri Lankan marinated north Atlantic mackerel Ceylonese Fish Croquette Wrapped in Idiyappam Noodles, Tomato and Tamarind Fondue, Garlic Fried Spinach, Kiri Hodi Coconut Sauce, and Pol Sambol.

The 2018 Zest Quest contest will be launched by Cyrus Todiwala and Walker at the PACE conference on May, 3rd at the Hilton hotel in Liverpool.