Globally Renowned Chef opens First Restaurant Outside Australia

Globally renowned Australian Chef, Shannon Bennett, has opened his first restaurant outside of Australia - VUE by Shannon Bennett - at the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat in Oman.

Highly revered by his peers and the gastronomic community worldwide, Bennett’s restaurant Vue de Monde (located in Melbourne Australia) is an acclaimed establishment that has won multiple awards since its inception in 2000.

“The Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat is delighted to have Shannon Bennett as part of our talented team. VUE by Shannon Bennett offers the hotel a unique dining concept unlike anything currently available in Oman,” said Tony Zamora Director of Operations, Oman, IHG and General Manager, Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat.

“Shannon’s sheer passion for food, coupled with his international experience and many accolades made him the standout choice for the hotel. His vision to deliver a distinctive dining experience perfectly complements the inimitable experience that we always strive to offer our guests at the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat.”

VUE by Shannon Bennett offers diners the essence of contemporary French cuisine. By incorporating incredible flavours, theatre and design, guests are taken on a veritable journey of the senses. Each dish is prepared using a combination of classic and contemporary culinary techniques, ensuring that the unique flavour and essence of each carefully sourced ingredient is maintained.

The focus of the restaurant is largely on degustation style dining. Guests may either choose from a selection of dishes to create their own menu of three, five or seven courses or may leave it in the hands of their waiter to suggest the most suitable dishes for their tastes.

The Menu Gastronome, a specially selected progression of around nine courses, is the ultimate indulgence and the most complete expression of the finely crafted nature of the dishes available. At lunch time, The Menu Du Jour offers unrivalled value at just 10 OMR per person for two courses and side dishes.

VUE by Shannon Bennett boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in Oman and non-Muslim guests may also select to have wines matched to each dish by the restaurants resident sommelier Brigid Hoskins. Alternatively, a non alcoholic beverage match is also available.

The dining room itself offers superb views, a spacious layout and the very best of cutlery, crockery and glassware sourced from around the globe. Shannon’s passion for supporting local artists is celebrated with works by leading Omani artists Hassan Meer and Rashid Abdulrahman Al Belushi displayed prominently in the room.

“Muscat takes my breath away with its natural beauty and culture, and the fact that it has been protected by too much development. I describe Muscat as the desert meeting the sea, with spectacular consequences,” Shannon said when asked why he selected Muscat for his first venture outside of his hometown, Melbourne.

The dishes on the menu have all been selected to make the most of produce that is locally available. So whilst the menu is based on dishes from Vue de monde in Melbourne we have been inspired by locally available ingredients and have enjoyed the challenge of adapting our dishes to show case these. We have also planted our own market garden within the hotel grounds giving us some control over the supply of raw produce and the fish market here is one of the most impressive I have ever seen.”

To train new staff and ensure high service standards, several highly skilled employees from Bennett’s signature restaurant in Melbourne travelled to Oman to impart their experience to the new team at VUE by Shannon Bennett. Restaurant Head Chef, Josh Lewis, has worked with Shannon at Vue de monde for 4 years and brings with him a fresh determination to deliver diners an experience unlike any other in the Middle East.

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