Picture of Shannon Bennett, Australia’s hottest chef pinched, from Saxton Speakers Bureau.The Melbourne vs Sydney food debate is one that is going to run and run. Last night the debate was in Melbourne’s favour at the Gourmet Traveller 2006 restaurant guide awards. Melbourne chef Shannon Bennett’s Vue de Monde (Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins St, Melbourne +61 3 9691 3888) was voted restaurant of the year. Bennett, 29, is now officially Australia’s hottest chef.In total Melbourne won five gongs vs two in Sydney and one in Queensland for a restaurant at swamp-based resort Noosa.Last year, the story was very different with no Melbourne city restaurants winning a gong and one country restaurant, The Lakehouse in Daylesford being awarded. Still, that was the year when the restaurant critics were only interested in Pizza with Ladro in Fitzroy being awarded best new restaurant by The Age.This year Gourmet Traveller voted as best new talent Robin Wickens of Melbourne restaurant Interlude (211 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy +61 3 9415-7300). The Best Maitre d’ was Bryan Lloyd of Vue de Monde, the best wine list was Asiana (181 Victoria Ave, Albert Park +61 3 9696-6688) in Melbourne while the best bar was the excellent Melbourne Supper Club (161 Spring St, Melbourne +61 3 9654-6300).Bennett moved his restaurant from Carlton to Little Collins Street only four months ago and was also awarded three chefs hats in The Age Good Food Guide in August despite having only been open for one week as it went to press. Vue de Monde also won the top gong at the Restaurant and Catering Awards last week.Bennett’s result represents a come back for Melbourne dining in the eyes of the critics. Last year The Age awarded only one restaurant, The Flower Drum (17 Market La Melbourne +61 3 9662 3655) three chefs hats. This year, Circa The Prince (2 Acland St, St Kilda +61 3 9536-1122) and Pearl (631-633 Church St, Richmond +61 3 9421-4599) also were awarded three hats making a total of four.Gourmet Traveller last year only awarded one Melbourne joint, Circa The Prince three of its prestigious stars.The news isn’t all good though. Sydney does score eight three star restaurants, twice as many as Melbourne.Read on for full list of winners. We hope to review them all for Tomato in time.WINNERSRestaurant of the YearVue de Monde (Melbourne)Chef: Shannon BennettBest New Talent Robin Wickens, Interlude (Melbourne)Outstanding Contribution to the IndustrySerge Dansereau, The Bathers’ Pavilion (Sydney)Best Maitre d’Bryan Lloyd, Vue de Monde (Melbourne)Best Sommelier Georgia North, Becasse (Sydney)Best Wine ListAsiana, (Melbourne)Best Regional Restaurant Berardo’s, NoosaBest BarMelbourne Supper ClubTHREE STAR WINNERSNSWBuon RicordoClaude’sEst.Guillaume at BennelongPierQuayRockpoolTetsuya’sSAThe GrangeBridgewater MillVICCirca, the PrinceFlower DrumVue de MondeStefano’s
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