A new six-part documentary series on BINGE will chronicle the high-stakes launch of The Belongil, a $10 million restaurant development in Byron Bay. Co-founder Shannon Bennett stars in the show, capturing his return to the kitchen after a six-year break. Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has praised the venue as his new favorite.
Shannon Bennett, co-founder of The Belongil and former chef at Vue de Monde, features prominently in the upcoming BINGE series Shannon Bennett: Pressure Cooker. The six-part documentary, set to premiere this year, tracks Bennett's journey back to professional cooking ahead of his 50th birthday. It highlights the challenges of constructing the venue, including evolving designs, rising costs, menu development, and tight timelines.
The series portrays Bennett working with a team of creatives, industry leaders, and notable supporters amid the stress of creating a premium dining experience. The emotional aspects of the project, from doubts to excitement, are central to the narrative.
The Belongil opened in December on the site previously occupied by Belongil Beach Italian. The $10 million development includes four distinct outlets: the fine-dining restaurant Feu, the casual Belongil Bistro, the exclusive invitation-only bar Blind Tiger in a prohibition style, and the Kiosk offering items like toasted sandwiches, egg and bacon rolls, and pastries.
Among the early visitors to Feu in January were Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, who reside in nearby Broken Head. Hemsworth shared his experience on Instagram to his 58 million followers, calling it his "new favourite restaurant" and thanking Bennett for "one of the most epic gourmet food adventures I’ve ever had." The post garnered nearly 600,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.
Bennett, a Belongil resident, collaborated on the project with neighbor Glen Norman, a businessman and property investor who is the son of the late Harvey Norman co-founder Ian Norman.