Celebrity chef who reaped $15m from restaurant deal in tank dispute
A MasterChef star has been caught up in a messy legal dispute over a $6,000 lobster tank after reaping $15 million from the sale of his stake in a Melbourne restaurant empire.
Millionaire celebrity chef Shannon Bennett commissioned Coburg Aquarium in 2012 to install a set-piece glass enclosure to display mud crabs to high-end customers at Vue de Monde, Fairfax Media reports.
That aquarium and tropical fish supplier has lodged a legal complaint against the celebrity chef in the Magistrates Court of Victoria over the $6,050 tank.
A MasterChef star has been caught up in a messy legal dispute over a $6,000 lobster tank after reaping $15 million from the sale of his stake in a Melbourne restaurant empire
Millionaire celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, pictured with soap star wife Madeleine West, commissioned Coburg Aquarium in 2012 to install the tank at Vue de Monde
The company alleges Bennett, 42, had ignored phone voice messages, faces and emails from them, the complaint seen by The Age said.
They are seeking $1,132 in costs from the MasterChef guest judge over a March 2012 invoice for installing the tank at his upmarket Collins Street restaurant, which charges diners $230 to $275 to sample its tasting menu.
Bennett, who has six children with former Neighbours star wife Madeleine West, lives in Toorak and his continues to operate a restaurant in the Rialto Tower.
His solicitor Sam Bond from SBA Law told The Age his client had been not been served with any court summons and was unaware of his debt.
In 2016, Bennett sold 65 per cent of his company Vue Group to Singapore billionaire brothers Robert and Philip Ng for $14.6 million.
That aquarium and tropical fish supplier has lodged a legal complaint against the celebrity chef in the Magistrates Court of Victoria over the $6,050 tank (stock image)