The Atrium Restaurant has become the first student run restaurant to receive a Beef and Lamb Excellence Award, twice.

The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's training restaurant received the award last year and has now claimed the same title this year.

This year's winning beef dish is an aged fillet of beef, chargrilled and served with herb polenta, ratatouille with a choron sauce.

Judges described the dish as ‘faultless'.

'The eye fillet was simply seasoned and grilled perfectly to rare as requested, with good caramelisation.

'Presentation was innovative with crispy polenta and a well-textured ratatouille.”

The winning lamb dish is a roasted lamb rump with potato fondant, red wine shallots and a balsamic jus.

'The flavour of the rump was sweet and rich and the accompanying shallots were outstanding. Presentation was tidy and colourful, and all aspects of the dish blended well.”