The Asian Catering Federation [ACF] has criticised restaurant takeaway delivery platforms for undermining the hospitality sector, and in turn High Street trade in general, ahead of a presentation to leading chefs and restaurants at the House of Lords. ACF committee member, chef Binod Baral, a Goodwill Ambassador for the Gurkha Centre in London, said: “Delivery…
Read the full storyOver 40 VIP guests attended a launch dinner at The Grove Restaurant to hear about exciting plans set to transform Bradford College. Hosted by former MasterChef finalist Exose Grant, the event showcased several of the College’s extensive construction projects, which will soon take shape. Projects include new £3.5m vocational T Level facilities, a £6.9m refurbishment of the derelict Garden Mills, and the construction of a new £17m Future Technologies Centre on Thornton Road. Christopher Malish, Bradford College Vice Principal Finance & Corporate Services, opened the dinner by saying, “These projects are a huge boost for the College but also a transformative investment in Bradford that supports the wider city centre development.…
Read the full storyThe Sheffield College has been announced as the worthy winners of Zest Quest Asia 2024 at its celebratory Gala Dinner & Awards Night held at the Hilton London Wembley hotel on Tuesday 27th February 2024. Guests included college, industry and media representatives who gathered to support Zest Quest Asia in its mission to secure homegrown chefs for the future, who are proficient in Asian cuisine. Six student teams from colleges across the UK competed for the coveted Zest Quest Asia crown. All teams performed to a high standard, displaying outstanding talent and skill in the execution of their Asian inspired menus, but alas, there could only be one winner. Following…
Read the full storyIndia is a land of diverse cultures and religions, and as a result, there are numerous festivals celebrated throughout the year. Here’s a list of some prominent festivals celebrated in India along with brief descriptions. This isn’t intended to be an exhaustive list so if you have one you would like mentioned please add it…
Read the full storyThe term “poppadom,” also spelled “papadum” or “papad,” refers to a thin, crisp disc-shaped Indian flatbread made primarily from seasoned lentil or chickpea flour. This versatile and popular accompaniment to many South Asian meals has a complex etymology and a variety of spellings that reflect its cultural diversity and historical evolution. The word “poppadom” itself…
Read the full storyGhee, often referred to as clarified butter, is a staple in many cuisines around the world, with its origins deeply rooted in South Asia. The term “ghee” is derived from the Sanskrit word “ghṛta,” and its popularity has transcended cultural boundaries, finding its way into kitchens worldwide. So, what the hell is ghee? At its…
Read the full storyThe six finalists have just been announced for the 2024 Zest Quest Asia competition! Entries were plentiful and standards were high but after paper entries were scrupulously judged, six student teams have been chosen to compete at this year’s esteemed event. Going through to the final cook-off, to be held at the University of West…
Read the full storyCyrus Todiwala OBE DL, chef patron of landmark Indian restaurant, Café Spice Namaste, and co-founder with Pervin Todiwala of Zest Quest Asia, has been busy encouraging friends and associates in industry and education to support the student finalists of Zest Quest Asia at the competition’s eleventh gala dinner and awards night in February next year.…
Read the full storyNot strictly anything to do with curry (although they make a very acceptable Samosa Pie) but I wanted to give a shout out to the people who make these fantastic pies. I moved to Yorkshire a little over a year ago and was lucky enough to find them online. We’ve since ordered 3 or 4 times (they sell in packs of six) and have tried pretty much every pie they have. I would recommend a taster box is they way to go, they cater for all, both meat eaters and vegans / vegetarians. I am happy with either so would say my personal favourites so far are the Steak and…
Read the full storyIt’s always nice when someone gives you a present, so today my friend Gary brought in some of his homemade Scotch Bonnet & Mango Sauce. So we immediately hot footed it off to Lily’s to buy some of their excellent samosas to give it a taste test. Here’s what we thought: WOW – you certainly get a kick from the Scotch Bonnets but this is well balanced by the sweet mango making this a perfect dipping sauce with the samosas. It doesn’t have that overly sickly sweet taste that some mass produced sauces have, but a clean, hot taste and pours easily from the bottle. So it’s a great sauce,…
Read the full storyTilda has just been announced as Zest Quest Asia’s headline sponsor for the 2024 competition. As seasoned supporters of Zest Quest Asia, providing gold sponsorship each year since the competition’s inception, Tilda is proud to be taking the headline sponsorship slot for the 2024 competition and in doing so, demonstrates a strong commitment to community and education. Founded by Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala, with the Master Chefs of Great Britain, Zest Quest Asia’s mission has always been to inspire ambitious 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…
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