Shannon Bennett

Acclaimed Australian chef Shannon Bennett accomplished one of the greatest challenge of his life in 2011 when he is moved his acclaimed Vue de monde restaurant to a dramatic new location at the top of Melbourne’s iconic Rialto building.

Vue de monde first opened in suburban Carlton in 2000, before moving five years later to a new premise in the business district’s Normanby Chambers. After a highly successful six years there, during which Shannon scored an unprecedented 19/20 from The Age Good Food Guide and was repeatedly named Australian Restaurant of the Year, Shannon felt it was time to take Vue de monde to even greater heights. And so to the Rialto! Vue de monde at Rialto opened in July 2011 - the 1000 square metre venue added a customised events space-Vue Events at Rialto and stunning bar-The Lui Bar.

This was not just a move to a dramatic location and the coolest of interior design. Shannon boldly set out to make Vue de monde Australia’s most sustainable restaurant. More than 50 cutting-edge technologies are being employed, from an E-water system to ‘cold kitchen technology’ (no exposed flames or gas). Shannon is using homegrown and small-farm organic produce wherever possible and recyclable products.

However, Vue de monde is far, far more than breakthrough achievements in responsible restaurant operation. People travel the world over to eat Shannon’s remarkable food. Maurice Chevalier famously said, “I never eat when I can dine”. These are words taken to heart by Shannon.

Vue de monde is testament to the belief that restaurant food can be a wondrous, unforgettable experience. Without compromise, in his principles or ingredients, Shannon has fashioned his own innovative way of cooking, matching the efforts of acknowledged masters worldwide.

Reviews and word of mouth have resulted in notoriety achieved largely through Shannon's obsession for classical cuisine, which has seen him reinterpret the cuisine of creators such as Carême, Dugléré and Escoffier, and develop an exciting, cutting-edge cuisine of his own. Shannon’s dedication and pride have established him as one of Australia’s most exciting chefs.

Vue de monde was awarded Restaurant of the Year, three hats and an unprecedented 19/20 in The Age Good Food Guide 2007. Vue de monde was awarded Restaurant of the Year by Australian Gourmet Traveller for 2006 and again in 2007 – the first time in the award’s history that it has been won two years in a row by the same restaurant.

Vue de monde also won the national awards for Restaurant of the Year and Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year in the 2005 Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence, and again in the 2007 awards. Recently, Vue de monde has maintained its position securing three hats in The Age Good Food Guide, three stars for the Australian Gourmet Traveller awards, and Restaurant of the Year and Best Fine Dining for Restaurant and Catering Victoria.

Shannon's philosophy at Vue de monde is to provide a dining experience that is theatrical and cannot be replicated in the home environment. Shannon achieves this through his dedication to the dining experience as a whole; from the sourcing of rare ingredients, to his uncompromising approach to classical technique and his commitment to the very best of restaurant service, including crockery, cutlery and glassware.

Having firmly established Vue de monde, Café Vue and Bistro Vue followed in 2006, offering additional dining options at the same city location. 

2009 saw the opening of two further Café Vue venues: Café Vue at 401 St Kilda Road and Café Vue at Heide at the iconic Heide Museum of Modern Art.  In late 2010 Café Vue at Melbourne International Airport opened, realizing Shannon’s long-held dream of taking on the airlines! Following Vue de monde's  move to the Rialto, Bistro Vue was extensively renovated taking over the former Vue de monde space and adding a seperate bar. Café Vue will enjoy a similar make over in mid 2012.  

In developing international exposure for Vue de monde, Shannon was invited to be the first Australian member of the exclusive Jeunes Restaurateurs D’Europe. Shannon was also invited to be part of the Star Chefs Congress, in September 2007 in New York, securing his position of a leading chef on the global stage.   In May 2009, Shannon was the first chef invited to speak at the prestigious AGideas design conference to an audience of 2,500 people.

Also an accomplished author, Shannon’s first two books, My Vue and My French Vue, are both in their second editions and Shannon Bennett’s Paris (Shannon’s personal guide to his favourite city) was released in December 2009.  Shannon Bennett’s Guide to New York was released in March 2011.  Shannon Bennett’s Guide to France and a completely revised edition of Paris were both released in November 2011.