{{Short description|Australian chef and author}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Shannon Bennett | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|11|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Australia | occupation = Chef, author | partner = Madeleine West (2005–2018) | children = 6 | website = [http://www.vuedemonde.com.au www.vuedemonde.com.au] }} '''Shannon Bennett''' (born 23 November 1975)<ref name="My Vue">{{cite book|last=Shannon|first=Bennett|title=My Vue: Modern French Cookery|year=2007|publisher=Simon & Schuster Australia|isbn=9780731813216|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TMonAQAACAAJ&dq=%22Shannon+Bennett%22}}</ref> is an Australian chef and author. He is best known as the head chef of restaurant Vue de Monde at Melbourne's Rialto Tower. Bennett currently serves as the creative director at the restaurant and its parent company Vue Groups,<ref>{{Cite web|title=People|url=https://vuedemonde.com.au/people|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Vue de monde|language=en-US}}</ref> having previously been the executive chef. He has made many appearances as a guest judge on the popular cooking show ''MasterChef Australia''.
Bennett also owns and operates several other hospitality venues in Melbourne – Vue Events at Rialto, The Lui Bar, Bistro Vue, Benny Burger and Café Vue in two locations - and has written six books. He has appeared on a number of Australian food television shows and he is a brand ambassador for Miele and Audi and Nespresso.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/shannonbennett.html|title=Vue de monde official website|last=Mohajer|first=Mahsa|website=www.vuedemonde.com.au|language=en|access-date=2018-02-06}}</ref>
==Biography== Bennett was raised in Westmeadows, Victoria. He attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. Together with classmate Curtis Stone, Bennett realised a passion for cooking and he was subsequently introduced to the restaurant trade by his uncle Tom. Bennett completed his apprenticeship at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne before working overseas and then returning to Melbourne to open Vue de monde.<ref name="28 Days in Provence: Food and Family in the Heart of France">{{cite book|last=Shannon|first=Bennett|title=28 Days in Provence: Food and Family in the Heart of France|year=2013|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|isbn=9780522858075|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PRWLMAEACAAJ&dq=28+Days+in+Provence:+Food+and+Family+in+the+Heart+of+France}}</ref>
Bennett was in a relationship with Australian actress Madeleine West from 2005 to 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/masterchefs-shannon-bennett-and-madeleine-west-split/ar-BBLwQoi|title=MasterChef's Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West split|website=www.msn.com|accessdate=6 August 2018}}</ref> The couple have six children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Chelsea |date=2018-11-02 |title=Madeleine West on being a single mum to six children after her split from Shannon Bennett. |url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/madeleine-west-children/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=Mamamia |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Career== Bennett trained at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for 3 years as an apprentice before working for John Burton Race for 2 years, Marco Pierre White for over 2 years, and Alain Ducasse at Hotel de Paris for a year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shannon Bennett|url=https://www.andyhayler.com/chef-interviews/chef-interview/shannon-bennett|access-date=2021-04-18|website=www.andyhayler.com}}</ref> In 2003, he was awarded Gourmet Traveller Magazine's inaugural Best New Talent title. Bennett relocated the restaurant in 2005 to Melbourne's CBD.
Bennett was invited to be the first Australian member of the associations Jeunes Restaurateurs D’Europe and Le Grand Tables Du Monde. In 2007 Bennett was a guest chef at New York's Star Chefs Congress. Vue de monde was awarded ''Restaurant of the Year'' in The Age Good Food Guide, 2013 and 2014.<ref name="Vue de monde">{{cite web|last=Vue de monde|title=Vue de monde|url=http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/|accessdate=26 February 2013}}</ref>
Bennett's current projects include the complete redevelopment of the Burnham Beeches property while the Vietnamese/French-twist food establishment, "Jardin Tan" opened in July 2014 in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/just-open-jardin-tan-royal-botanic-gardens-20140725-3ck76|title=Just open: Jardin Tan, Royal Botanic Gardens|last=Egger|first=Simone|date=2014-07-25|work=Good Food|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/restaurants/restaurant-news-features/2014/7/jardin-tan/|title=Jardin Tan|date=2014-07-25|work=Gourmet Traveller|access-date=2018-02-06|language=en}}</ref>
==Controversy==
In 2018, Bennett received considerable attention in the media over a series of unpaid bills including the alleged underpayment and overworking of his staff at the Vue-de-Monde restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|title=VUE-DE-MONDE UNDERPAID WORKERS|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-09/vue-de-monde-restaurant-staff-underpaid-former-workers-claim/9613110|accessdate=12 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vue de monde celebrity chef in hot water over unpaid bills|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/celebrity-chef-shannon-bennett-in-hot-water-over-his-companys-alleged-unpaid-bills-a-current-affair-report-reveals/news-story/ddd506f07a81afab7d5f7176fd7f0617|accessdate=12 May 2015}}</ref>
Further media attention was also given as to his refusal to pay a long outstanding debt over the installation of a $10,000 crayfish tank at his restaurant,<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrity chef shannon bennett refuses to shell out on lobster tank|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/celebrity-chef-shannon-bennett-refuses-to-shell-out-on-lobster-tank-20180319-p4z54x.html}}</ref> although the matter was resolved in early 2018 with details of the settlement hidden within a confidentiality agreement.
A national current affairs television program also ran a story with more examples of unpaid bills to local builders involved in the building of Bennett's multimillion-dollar South Yarra mansion in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vue de monde celebrity chef in hot water over unpaid bills|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/04/26/17/23/celebrity-chef-shannon-bennett-vue-de-monde-not-paying-bills-claim|accessdate=12 May 2018}}</ref> The story also covered concerns raised by residents regarding the current state of disrepair of the Norris building, the proposed removal of the National Trust listed Beech trees and other issues surrounding Bennett's proposed new development of the Burnham Beeches Estate in the Yarra Valley.
==Books== * ''28 days in Provence'' {{ISBN|0522858074}} * ''Cooking All Over the World'' {{ISBN|9781921383823}} * ''My French Vue - Bistro cooking at Home'' {{ISBN|9780731814206}} * ''My Vue Modern French Cookery'' {{ISBN|0731813219}} * ''Shannon Bennett’s France'' {{ISBN|9780522862096}} * ''Shannon Bennett’s London'' {{ISBN|9781743791745}} * ''Shannon Bennett’s Paris'' {{ISBN|0522858139}} * ''Shannon Bennett’s New York'' {{ISBN|9780522861808}}
==Accolades== * 2003 Australian Gourmet Traveller, Inaugural award 'Best New Talent'<ref>{{cite web|title=Best new talent|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/8654457/best-new-talent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025908/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/8654457/best-new-talent|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|publisher=EBSCO Host|accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref> * 2004 San Pellegrino Cooking Cup, Venice, Italy 2004, Overall winner & winner best dish<ref name="Vue de monde"/> * 2012 Eat-Drink-Design Awards Best Bar Design<ref name=EAT-DRINK-DESIGN1>{{cite web|title=Eat-Drink-Design Awards 2012 - High commendation: Lui Bar|url=http://gallery.eat-drink-design.com/entry/2012/1/7|publisher=EAT-DRINK-DESIGN|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> Best Restaurant Design<ref name=EAT-DRINK-DESIGN2>{{cite web|title=Eat-Drink-Design Awards 2012 - Best Restaurant Design|url=http://gallery.eat-drink-design.com/entry/2012/2/6|publisher=EAT-DRINK-DESIGN|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * 2013 The Age Good Food Guide<ref name="Good food guides">{{cite web|title=Restaurant of the Year|url=http://www.goodguides.com.au/melbourne/content/awards-2013/gkkhjt?linkid=2003|publisher=Good food guides|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * 2013 Bistro Vue, Top 10 French restaurants<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 French restaurants|url=http://www.goodguides.com.au/melbourne/cmspage.php?intid=1213&intversion=18|publisher=Good food Guides|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * 2012 Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide<ref name="Australian Gourmet Traveller">{{cite web|title=Australian Gourmet Traveller 2012 Restaurant Awards: The top 100|url=http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/australian-gourmet-traveller-2011-restaurant-awards-the-top-100.htm|publisher=Australian Gourmet Traveller|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * 2012 The Age Good Bar Guide -The Lui bar - winner best restaurant bar - two glasses And Bistro vue - 1 glass<ref name="The AGE">{{cite web|title=Winners of The Age Good Bar Guide 2012|url=http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/lifestyle/winners-of-the-age-good-bar-guide-2012-20120604-1zruh.html|publisher=The AGE|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * Australian interior design awards<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Hospitality Design {{!}} Award|url=http://gallery.australianinteriordesignawards.com/year:2012/awardid:3/galleryid:4747|publisher=Australian interior design awards|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> :Hospitality Design :Sustainability Advancement Award * 2011 Wine spectator<ref>{{cite web|title=Vue de monde - Best Award of Excellence|url=http://www.winespectator.com/restaurants/search?name=vue+de+monde+&page=1&submitted=Y&commit=Search&city=&state=&country=AUSTRALIA&zip=&dist=0&awardlevel=&cuisine=&winestrength=&pricecategory=&corkage=&sortorder=award&size=10|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref> * Gourmet traveller fine wine partners<ref>{{cite web|title=GOURMET TRAVELLER FINE WINE PARTNERS|url=http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/vue_de_monde_wine10.htm|publisher=Wine spectator|accessdate=18 March 2013}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Shannon}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Australian restaurateurs Category:Australian cookbook writers Category:People educated at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Category:People from the City of Hume Category:Writers from Melbourne