Shannon Bennett: What He’s Doing Now, MasterChef Exit, and More

Chef Shannon Bennett spent years as one of Australia’s most recognizable faces in fine dining and television, but his latest move isn’t about returning to the spotlight. As of July 2025, he’s back on the pass in Melbourne with a three-month residency at The StandardX Melbourne, signaling a quieter, more personal return to the kitchen.

Born: 23 November 1975 · Age: 49 (as of 2025) · Known for: Head chef of Vue de Monde · Current project: Three-month residency at The StandardX Melbourne

Five facts, one pattern: Bennett’s career is in transition—from top-tier fine dining and television to a more agile, personal project-based model.

What is Shannon Bennett doing now?

Current residency at The StandardX Melbourne

• Bennett launched BistroX as a three-month residency at Fitzroy’s The StandardX Melbourne in July 2025 (Broadsheet Melbourne).
• The pop-up launched on 23 July 2025 and was scheduled to run until 15 October 2025 (Time Out Melbourne).
• Concrete Playground later reported that the residency was extended indefinitely (Concrete Playground).

Bennett created the menu alongside ex-Vue de Monde chefs Cory Campbell and Ryan Henley (Broadsheet Melbourne). The concept is described as a neighbourhood bistro offering dinner seven days a week and lunch Friday through Sunday (Concrete Playground).

Other ventures: The Belongil, Culinary Wonderland

• Bennett is founder and creative chef of The Belongil, a Byron Bay-based hospitality project (Instagram).
• He is co-founder of Culinary Wonderland, a food-focused media platform (Instagram).
• He also serves as director and partner at On The Money, a financial services firm (Instagram).

The pattern: Bennett is diversifying beyond the kitchen into media and finance, leveraging his public profile.

Why did Shannon Bennett leave MasterChef Australia?

Reasons for departure

Bennett was a regular guest mentor and judge on MasterChef Australia across multiple seasons (Network Ten, IMDb). His departure was announced in 2021, though the specific reasons have not been publicly detailed. The Sydney Morning Herald noted in April 2023 that Bennett “had been a regular guest on MasterChef” (The Sydney Morning Herald). Bennett himself has not commented extensively on the exit.

Impact on his career

Since leaving the show, Bennett has shifted his focus to independent projects, notably the BistroX residency and his Byron Bay ventures. The television exposure helped build his personal brand, but his current trajectory suggests a deliberate move away from the mass-media spotlight.

Are Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West still together?

Timeline of relationship

Bennett and actress Madeleine West were in a relationship for 16 years (The Sydney Morning Herald). They separated around 2023. In April 2023, the Herald reported that Bennett was the subject of a domestic violence order brought by West (The Sydney Morning Herald).

Reasons for split

The specific reasons for the split have not been made public by either party. The domestic violence order was reported by the Herald but no further details about the circumstances were disclosed. Bennett and West have maintained a private stance regarding their personal affairs.

This leaves the details of their separation largely outside the public domain.

How many children does Shannon Bennett have?

Ages of children

Bennett has three children with Madeleine West (The Sydney Morning Herald). The exact ages of his children have not been publicly disclosed, and the family maintains a low profile regarding their personal lives.

Co-parenting arrangements

Details of the co-parenting arrangement are not available in public sources. Given the legal proceedings reported in 2023, it is reasonable to assume that a formal parenting plan exists, but specifics have not been shared.

What restaurants does Shannon Bennett own?

Vue de Monde

Bennett is best known as the former head chef of Vue de Monde, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated fine-dining restaurants (Wikipedia). He led the kitchen at the Rialto tower location for many years before stepping away.

Other restaurants and ventures

• The Belongil – a Byron Bay dining project (Instagram).
• Culinary Wonderland – a food media platform.
• On The Money – a financial services firm where he is a director.

The implication: Bennett’s restaurant portfolio has shifted from a single flagship to a multi-entity ecosystem that includes media and finance.

For Bennett, the next chapter is about staying grounded in Melbourne’s dining scene, and the question is whether BistroX will evolve into a permanent fixture or remain a temporary return. For the Australian chef community, the takeaway is clear: the post-MasterChef pivot can work—if you’re willing to trade television exposure for a more intimate, hands-on model.