Founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala with the Master Chefs of Great Britain, Zest Quest Asia’s mission has always been to ‘inspire’ student chefs to embrace the myriad cuisines of Asia. Now in its 11th year, the competition seeks out six finalist teams of UK based student chefs to compete at the top level.

To aid participating students, Tilda’s foodservice team are on hand to support entrants before, during and after the competition by providing live online tutorials to enthuse and inform on the many uses of Tilda’s extensive range of rice and its vast potential.

Jean-Philippe Laborde, managing director of Tilda, said: “We are delighted to pledge our commitment to Zest Quest Asia for another year. Choosing to be headline sponsors for 2024 aligns seamlessly with our company values and allows us to support and inspire the next generation of future culinary talent.

“Promoting education and encouraging talented chefs to explore the world of rice and Asian cuisine is our passion, and Zest Quest Asia achieves this superbly by truly nurturing innovation and creativity. We are so excited to see the inventive use of Tilda basmati rice in the dishes created by these aspiring chefs. Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala’s dedication to the students is amazing, together we will continue to inspire and support.”

Rice provides the cornerstone of many Asian dishes, and its versatility makes it a key ingredient in any kitchen. For this year’s competition, entrants must be imaginative in their use of any of Tilda’s range of Basmati rice in their starter, main course or dessert dishes making it the hero on the plate.

Zest Quest Asia is now open for entries, with the closing date being 8th December 2023. The final cook-off and gala dinner will be on 27th February 2024. To submit your entry, go to: https://www.talkingfood.co.uk/zqa.