It’s the most exclusive room in Victorian hospitality. See who made the 46th Age Good Food Guide awards guest list

A core principle this masthead prides itself on is that no venue can pay to be included in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guides.

The same can be said for restaurateurs buying a ticket to the 46th Age Good Food Guide awards ceremony itself. It’s a rare opportunity to mingle with all of Victorian hospitality’s elite in one room – but most guests have to be personally invited to join.

About 500 industry movers and shakers gathered this evening at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne to find out if they’re actually the creme de la creme.

We so graciously host on a Monday, when restaurants are usually closed or quiet, so even the most elusive chefs can swap their whites and chore jackets for cocktail attire (except, perhaps, Attica’s Ben Shewry).

Attendees are either award nominees or hand-plucked from hatted restaurant or 100 Essential Restaurants staff, past winners lists or the coveted VIP list they have somehow found themselves on. (There are a select few corporate sponsors, such as event partners Oceania Cruises and T2 Tea, who can purchase a table).

But if you weren’t in the room where it happened, fear not. We thoroughly documented all the action over on our live blog.

Otherwise, read on to see photos of those who did make the cut.

All the best photos from the 46th Age Good Food Guide awards

The Good Food app is free for premium subscribers of The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, and also available as a standalone subscription. You can download the Good Food app here.

Bronte Gossling is a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAtoday and Brisbane Times.Connect via email.