Flinders Living is still plating up prize-winning dishes, with the University’s student housing complex taking out a second consecutive state catering award.

Scolarest, the caterer of Flinders University’s Hall of Residence, won best Industrial/Institutional Caterer in the 2012 SA Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence last month, scoring 100 per cent in the catering, food, service and satisfaction categories – eight per cent higher than the average score among the three finalists.

The team, headed by Scolarest site manager Mandy Pulbrook, will now go on to compete in the national finals in Brisbane on October 19, where they will vie for a back-to-back title.

Dean of Flinders Housing Helen Fletcher said the win proved “the way to a student’s heart is through the stomach”.

“Our student residents love the treats, the quality and the variety they get during swot vac and exams,” Ms Fletcher said.

“It makes this difficult period so much easier to get through when a student knows they can pop into the dining hall and find a different treat every day, available all day – it’s very stress-reducing.”

Catering for the 240 residents of Flinders Hall is run by a team of 10, including head chef Mike Brewitt, and all meals on the 10-week rotating menu are reviewed by a dietician.

Themed breakfasts, food-filled theatre restaurants and scrumptious formal dinners are all part of the service delivered by Scolarest, while the health conscious have ample selection of fresh fruits, yoghurts made from scratch and “heart tick” items on every menu.

Scolarest, which is an arm of international catering group Compass, is also involved in Hall life through support of in-house charity events and by providing sponsorship to Hall students who do volunteer work overseas.

“Most of our catering staff know most of our residents,” Ms Fletcher said.

“They see themselves as part of the larger Flinders Living team, not a separate entity, and this is just one of the many elements that sets us apart.”