The Met Gala of hospitality: See who made the 42nd Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards guest list

It’s the most exclusive room in the NSW food scene, a rare opportunity for up-and-comers to rub shoulders with industry veterans and celebrity chefs. So how do you get in?We are not so delusional to put ourselves in the league of custom Schiaparelli or Joan of Arc-inspired chain mail when it comes to our choice in evening wear.It’s not an exaggeration to say that even the most elusive chefs have shirked their whites for cocktail dress at the 42nd Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards because they know it is, essentially, the Met Gala of NSW hospitality.Hosted on a Monday, when restaurants are usually closed or quiet, 500 of the industry’s elite can gather in one room and mingle – most of whom are personally invited.A core principle this masthead prides itself on is that no venue can pay to be included in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Good Food Guides.The same can be said for restaurateurs buying a ticket to the awards ceremony itself. Impossible!Attendees are either award nominees like Andy Allen, or hand-plucked from hatted restaurants or 100 Essential Restaurants, past winners or from the coveted VIP list, such as Matt Moran and Kylie Kwong. (There are a select few corporate sponsors, such as event partners Oceania Cruises and T2 Tea, who can purchase a table).Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upAs the chosen few swan around Eveleigh’s Carriageworks this afternoon, we are dutifully reporting back all the inside gossip on our live blog.Otherwise, read on to see photos of who did make the cut this year. We won’t tell you who was snubbed, but we’re sure you can figure it out from who’s missing.All the best photos from inside the 42nd Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards Lee Ho Fook owner and chef Victor Liong.Dion GeorgopoulosFirepop’s Alina Van and Raymond Hou pictured with Good Food reviewer Lee Tran Lam (centre).Dion GeorgopoulosSydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide editors David Matthews and Callan Boys at Carriageworks ahead of the big event.Dion GeorgopoulosFormer Young Chef of the Year winners turned judges, Lauren Eldridge and Phil Wood.Dion GeorgopoulosFormer Sydney Morning Herald chief restaurant critic Terry Durack.Dion GeorgopoulosSMH editor Jordan Baker arrives at the Good Food Guide Awards.Sitthixay DitthavongThe Good Food app is free for premium subscribers of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, 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.From our partners