Restaurants served up award wins

Mission Estate Winery Restaurant's head chef Graeme Miles plates up one of its award-winning lamb dishes. Photo / Duncan Brown

Beef and lamb dishes have earned a number of Hawke's Bay restaurants accolades.

In the 20th Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards seven Hawke's Bay restaurants were awarded the coveted gold rimmed plate which acknowledged the quality of their beef and lamb dishes.

Mission Estate Winery Restaurant head chef Graeme Miles said they were very humbled to have received the award.

While the garnish of their winning winter beef dish changed seasonally, the awards from Beef and Lamb had remained constant for the restaurant.

"It's good that people take note, good for [Mission Estate] and for Hawke's Bay, and it's good to get some recognition for little old Napier," Mr Miles said.

This year Napier restaurants received half of the awards given to Hawke's Bay.

Napier's Emporium Eatery and Bar executive chef Damon McGinniss said it was always good to be recognised.

"We get it every year but we never take it for granted."

He said there was no doubt Hawke's Bay had a fantastic food scene, which was what made the region a great place to live.

"There are serious restaurants ... the people and chefs are very strong and very passionate."

It was the first year Namaskar Indian Restaurant in Havelock North had been recognised, which owner Alam Singh said was very exciting.

With more than 200 restaurants entering into the awards this year, 173 restaurants received an Excellence Award recognising their outstanding beef and lamb cookery and expertise in the kitchen.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Rod Slater said the fact the awards had been running for two decades was a testimony to the timelessness of beef and lamb dishes in New Zealand.

"For 20 years, we have been guaranteeing Kiwis when they go into an Excellence Award-holding restaurant they will be served only quality beef and lamb dishes.

"We've seen some of the best beef and lamb dishes New Zealand has to offer and it has been a real honour to work with such talented chefs," he said.

As well as acknowledging restaurants who have reached an exceptional level, the awards also selected five top chefs from across the country to be 2016 Beef and Lamb Ambassador Chefs.

The Excellence Awards were the nation's longest running culinary awards, and were held in high regard by those in the food service industry.