The 2020 food and wine Hall of Fame Legends revealed

Eight Victorian food and wine scene champions have been named Legends of 2020, recognising their work in advocating, educating, inspiring and blazing trails for others to follow.

Since it began in 1993, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has saluted more than 150 leaders of the food and wine scene for their roles in shaping Victoria's hospitality industry.

Some of the state's best-known food names have received the annual Legends award, among them Stephanie Alexander, Ben Shewry, Ronnie di Stasio and Alla Wolf-Tasker.

But still the festival committee manages to select an impressive list of names to join the Hall of Fame. Here are this year's Legends:

Tansy Good, owner-chef of Tansy's Kyneton, who gained a following at Tansy's in Carlton and the CBD in the 1980s and '90s (and trained such chefs as Karen Martini, Philippa Sibley and Andrew McConnell), and who continues to wow Cental Victorian diners.

Paul and Jessica Ghaie, of speciality wine and beer stores Blackhearts and Sparrows, who have championed producers of organic, biodynamic, lo-fi, vegan, low- and no-alcohol drinks since 2006.

Gary McBean, who has built a devoted following at Gary's Quality Meats, Prahran Market, for the store's mix of personal service and professional polish, and for its ethical sourcing of animals.

Cameron Smith, whose 3RRR radio show, Eat It, has aired on Sundays at noon since 1987, making it the longest-running show of its kind in Australia.

Nino Pangrazio and the late Sisto Malaspina, who worked together at Bourke Street landmark Pellegrini's since 1974. Nino Pangrazio retired from Pellegrini's in late 2019, nearly a year to the week after the death of co-owner Sisto Malaspina.

And this year's Hostplus Trailblazer Award goes to Loretta Bolotin, of Free to Feed, a social enterprise Bolotin founded with her husband Daniel, to create job opportunities for refugees and seekers of asylum through cooking classes, catering and private events.