Catering students at The Sheffield College have enjoyed the trip of a lifetime after winning a national culinary competition.
Beth Brewster, Joe Defries and Phoebe Tuttle won Zest Quest Asia 2024 and have recently returned from a week-long prize trip to New Delhi in India.
Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala set up the Zest Quest Asia competition, with the support of the Master Chefs of Great Britain, in 2013 to raise awareness and knowledge of Asian cuisine.
Andrew Gabbitas, Catering Lecturer, The Sheffield College, said: “I cannot thank Tilda Rice and Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala enough for the incredible learning experience our students have had, a real trip of a lifetime, which has enriched their knowledge of Asian cuisine and culture enormously.”
He added: “What a fantastic prize trip from eating at one of Asia’s finest restaurants, the Indian Accent, to witnessing the tremendous work done by Mary’s Meals feeding under-privileged schoolchildren.
“A visit to the Taj Mahal followed by two days of learning about rice cultivation and visiting rice markets, a morning bike ride around Old Delhi to interactions with the Institute of Culinary Arts, we experienced authentic Indian life and culture and received some great education.”
As the headline sponsor of Zest Quest Asia 2024, Tilda supported the winning students on the educational journey to India accompanied by competition founders Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala.
During the trip, the students witnessed first-hand the journey of the basmati rice grain from the paddy fields of Taraori, Haryana to the rice trading markets at Mundhi auctions.
A visit to Mary’s Meals, a charity supported by Tilda, that provides a school meal to some of the world’s poorest children. The team also cycled the ancient streets of Old Delhi, visited the majestic Taj Mahal and stayed a night at the historic Noormahal Palace Hotel.
Annette Coggins, Head of Tilda Foodservice, said “We were passionate about ensuring the students had an incredible educational experience, this unforgettable trip included visits to the paddy fields, conversations with farmers about sustainable farming methods and growing techniques, to seeing the end product traded at the Mundhi auctions.
“One of the most moving parts of the journey was our visit to Mary’s Meals charity. Observing the positive impact of the support Tilda Foodservice give and seeing how much more we can do; this was truly heart-warming but also a powerful reminder of the difference we can make and a real eye opener for the students.
“But it wasn’t just about the rice—they also had the chance to experience the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of India, fully immersing themselves in its rich and diverse culture and having lots of fun along the way.
“The winning team were fantastic—eager to try everything and embrace every opportunity. I truly believe we provided them with a once-in-a-lifetime trip, filled with memories that will last forever.”
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Pictured: The Sheffield College team with Zest Quest Asia founders Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala outside the Taj Mahal in India.
