Dine Out: Studd Siblings x Zonzo Estate High Cheese at Allegro

The Westin hotel’s Allegro Restaurant debuted the High Cheese concept in 2018. As the name suggests, it’s regular high tea, but almost every dish features a different cheese.

It’s back for Broadsheet’s inaugural Dine Out festival with some extra oomph, thanks to Yarra Valley winery Zonzo Estate and beloved cheesemonger siblings Ellie and Sam Studd, who published their debut book The Best Things in Life are Cheese in 2023.

Book in for a three-tier feast of dishes created by the hotel’s executive chef, Apoorva Kunte, incorporating rare Studd sibling cheeses. There’ll be Aphrodite barrel-aged organic feta, Le Conquérant camembert, vintage clothbound cheddar and a Greek sheep and goat’s milk galotyri. In the past Kunte has baked the camembert with garlic and lemon thyme, and put galotyri in a tomato and potato tart.

Zonzo Estate winemaker Caroline Mooney will roam the dining room, pouring prosecco, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet franc chosen to complement each dish. In addition to hearing directly from her, you’ll get the inside word from Kunte about how each dish came together, plus insights from the Studds about each cheese and what makes it special.