Top 10 Restaurants of Australia

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Number 5 - Vue de Monde

Cuisine: Modern French/Contemporary

Location: Melbourne, VIC

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Head Chef: Shannon Bennett

Photo: Paul Rovere

Shannon Bennett's passion for cooking began at an early age, he spent precious time in the kitchen with his grandma as a child and wasn't afraid to take cooking subjects throughout high school¹. He first apprenticed at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne under Roger Leinhard and at the age of 17 he won a local Salon Cullinaire against many older and more experienced chefs. This instilled a confidence that led to Bennett procuring positions in Europe under the Michelin starred chefs John Burton-Race and Marco Pierre White where "their discipline in their approach to food left a large impression"².

After coming back to his home town in Melbourne Bennett has ambitiously developed his own style of cooking that displays great creativity, personality and passion. He has created a holistic dining experience at Vue de Monde through meticulous attention to detail that some say has led to a fine dining renaissance of sorts in Melbourne.

Number 5 in our list of the top ten restaurants of Australia is Shannon Bennett's Vue de Monde. The name literally translates to 'view of the world' and represent's Bennett's imaginative and ambitious view of the world through food and wine. In 2007 it achieved a plethora of top honours, taking out the Restaurant and Catering Australia's Restaurant of the Year and Best Fine Dining award, Gourmet Traveller's Restaurant of the Year, The Age Good Food Guide's Restaurant of the Year and a number 71 ranking in Restaurant Magazine UK's Top 100 list. It has since dropped out of the World Top 100 list but still maintains 3 Good Food Guide chef's hats and 3 Gourmet Traveller stars.

Vue de Monde attempts to create a dinning experience that cannot be replicated at home. The menu is ultimately based on French style cuisine but with creative, playful and unique interpretations. Touches of imaginative décor add to the sense of an alice in wonderland dining experience. The service is meticulous and an extensive international and local wine list serves some great matches.

Shannon Bennett explains Vue de Monde:

A video review of Vue de Monde:

Sample Dégustation Menu*

Amuse Bouche
White truffle marshmallow & Blue fin tuna & Vegetable terrine
Babeurre, Pommes, Fenouil, Fleurs
Buttermilk, apple, fennel, flowers
Anguille Fumée, Pomme, Chocolat Blanc
Smoked eel, apple, white chocolate
Oeuf de Canard, Agneau Ris de Veau, Asperges, Truffe
Fried duck egg, lamb sweetbreads, asparagus, truffle
Jardin de Légumes
Heide vegetable garden
Sorbet au Celeri
Celery sorbet, elderflower granite, frozen lime
Écrevisse Rôtie
Roasted marron, radish, spanner crab
Kangourou
Kangaroo, rosella, coffee, chocolate, lightly smoked at the table
Bœuf de Blackmore et Bettrave
Blackmore wagyu, beef cheek, beetroot
Fromage
Kytren Rondelle, pumpkin, rye bread
Entremet Sucré
Frozen lolly, popping candy, homemade lemonade
'Pommelo' et Litchi
Pommelo, lychee, rose
Mangue, Ananas, Soufflé à la Noix de Coco
Mango, pineapple, coconut soufflé
Notre Sélection de Cafés, Thés, Infusions et Petits-Fours
A selection of coffee, teas, infusions and petits-fours

See more menu information >

*Please note the provided menu and prices are only an example and may change at anytime, please refer to the restaurant's website for up to date information

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References

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/talkingheads/txt/s2213528.htm
http://tankeduptaco.blogspot.com/2008/07/shannon-bennett-vue-de-monde.html