The cooking school where a dining table takes centre stage for the guests

The Advertiser

15 hours ago

In the name chosen for her business, Jen Nicita hoped to capture the essence of her work in its three simple words.
Our Italian Table is the name of Jen's cooking school, where the skills learnt are only part of the experience, as the dining and conversations around the table during the meal are the hallmarks of its success.
The school is located in Pokolbin on the family's 70-acre Nicita Estate and has wonderful views of the Brokenback Ranges and nearby vineyards.
Even though it became fully operational just as the COVID lockdown occurred in 2020, the school has now welcomed its 7000th guest and is thriving.
At the recent Hunter Valley Legends Awards, Our Italian Table won Tourist Operator of the Year. This is a credit to Jen and her staff's dedication in creating a destination where food, wine and conversations flourish.
"The first time I visited my husband's family, it was the full Italian meal experience, so different to my own - no Italian heritage in my family," she said.
"Beautiful food and wine, lots of co nversations at once, and everyone gathered around the family table.
"That is what I wanted to create with my business in Pokolbin: a table, food, and conversations like one big Italian family. That is why I called it Our Italian Table."
A career in the food industry alongside helping her husband, Vince Nicita, in his software business when her children were young would eventually lead the couple to buy their property at Pokolbin in 2017.
"We lived on the North Shore and had easy access to the Hunter wineries, and I always had a passion to start a cooking school. So the property was ideal for the family getaway and my school," she said.
In addition to the school, the property has a 12-acre vineyards which Scarbough Wines manage.
"We love drinking the wines, but none of us is interested in making wines, so we leave it to the experts," Jen said.
The school is noted for its pasta making lessons with the classes open to 10 people who may book singly, as a couple or in a group.
"The mixed groups are lovely as people learn about pasta making at the same time as they chat to the other guests," Jen said.
"We have such a variable guest list, so it's interesting for us and the guests."
The classes last four hours, with three devoted to cooking before the guests move on to tasting their work.
Jen bases the dishes where she can on local produce, but it must be seasonal, and all the ingredients must be easily procured.
"If you want to buy special pasta flour, that's your call, but I want people to make their pasta with ingredients they can afford and that are available at a local supermarket," she said.
Jen has noted since she started school how some people are hard on themselves when it comes to cooking.
"If they took pottery classes, they could fail multiple times with their clay creations, but not when it comes to cooking, there is so much self-doubt, people are so self-critical of their cooking skills, which I hope to reverse while they are with us," she said.
"We hope to instil self-confidence in our classes."
The successful business now has two teachers and 10 other staff working alongside Jen, who loves that her little passion project has succeeded.
"Five minutes before a class, I look around the room and think how lucky I am to be able to share my passion for food and the Italian table with others," she said.
In the name chosen for her business, Jen Nicita hoped to capture the essence of her work in its three simple words.
Our Italian Table is the name of Jen's cooking school, where the skills learnt are only part of the experience, as the dining and conversations around the table during the meal are the hallmarks of its success.
The school is located in Pokolbin on the family's 70-acre Nicita Estate and has wonderful views of the Brokenback Ranges and nearby vineyards.
Even though it became fully operational just as the COVID lockdown occurred in 2020, the school has now welcomed its 7000th guest and is thriving.
At the recent Hunter Valley Legends Awards, Our Italian Table won Tourist Operator of the Year. This is a credit to Jen and her staff's dedication in creating a destination where food, wine and conversations flourish.
"The first time I visited my husband's family, it was the full Italian meal experience, so different to my own - no Italian heritage in my family," she said.
"Beautiful food and wine, lots of co nversations at once, and everyone gathered around the family table.
"That is what I wanted to create with my business in Pokolbin: a table, food, and conversations like one big Italian family. That is why I called it Our Italian Table."
A career in the food industry alongside helping her husband, Vince Nicita, in his software business when her children were young would eventually lead the couple to buy their property at Pokolbin in 2017.
"We lived on the North Shore and had easy access to the Hunter wineries, and I always had a passion to start a cooking school. So the property was ideal for the family getaway and my school," she said.
In addition to the school, the property has a 12-acre vineyards which Scarbough Wines manage.
"We love drinking the wines, but none of us is interested in making wines, so we leave it to the experts," Jen said.
The school is noted for its pasta making lessons with the classes open to 10 people who may book singly, as a couple or in a group.
"The mixed groups are lovely as people learn about pasta making at the same time as they chat to the other guests," Jen said.
"We have such a variable guest list, so it's interesting for us and the guests."
The classes last four hours, with three devoted to cooking before the guests move on to tasting their work.
Jen bases the dishes where she can on local produce, but it must be seasonal, and all the ingredients must be easily procured.
"If you want to buy special pasta flour, that's your call, but I want people to make their pasta with ingredients they can afford and that are available at a local supermarket," she said.
Jen has noted since she started school how some people are hard on themselves when it comes to cooking.
"If they took pottery classes, they could fail multiple times with their clay creations, but not when it comes to cooking, there is so much self-doubt, people are so self-critical of their cooking skills, which I hope to reverse while they are with us," she said.
"We hope to instil self-confidence in our classes."
The successful business now has two teachers and 10 other staff working alongside Jen, who loves that her little passion project has succeeded.
"Five minutes before a class, I look around the room and think how lucky I am to be able to share my passion for food and the Italian table with others," she said.
In the name chosen for her business, Jen Nicita hoped to capture the essence of her work in its three simple words.
Our Italian Table is the name of Jen's cooking school, where the skills learnt are only part of the experience, as the dining and conversations around the table during the meal are the hallmarks of its success.
The school is located in Pokolbin on the family's 70-acre Nicita Estate and has wonderful views of the Brokenback Ranges and nearby vineyards.
Even though it became fully operational just as the COVID lockdown occurred in 2020, the school has now welcomed its 7000th guest and is thriving.
At the recent Hunter Valley Legends Awards, Our Italian Table won Tourist Operator of the Year. This is a credit to Jen and her staff's dedication in creating a destination where food, wine and conversations flourish.
"The first time I visited my husband's family, it was the full Italian meal experience, so different to my own - no Italian heritage in my family," she said.
"Beautiful food and wine, lots of co nversations at once, and everyone gathered around the family table.
"That is what I wanted to create with my business in Pokolbin: a table, food, and conversations like one big Italian family. That is why I called it Our Italian Table."
A career in the food industry alongside helping her husband, Vince Nicita, in his software business when her children were young would eventually lead the couple to buy their property at Pokolbin in 2017.
"We lived on the North Shore and had easy access to the Hunter wineries, and I always had a passion to start a cooking school. So the property was ideal for the family getaway and my school," she said.
In addition to the school, the property has a 12-acre vineyards which Scarbough Wines manage.
"We love drinking the wines, but none of us is interested in making wines, so we leave it to the experts," Jen said.
The school is noted for its pasta making lessons with the classes open to 10 people who may book singly, as a couple or in a group.
"The mixed groups are lovely as people learn about pasta making at the same time as they chat to the other guests," Jen said.
"We have such a variable guest list, so it's interesting for us and the guests."
The classes last four hours, with three devoted to cooking before the guests move on to tasting their work.
Jen bases the dishes where she can on local produce, but it must be seasonal, and all the ingredients must be easily procured.
"If you want to buy special pasta flour, that's your call, but I want people to make their pasta with ingredients they can afford and that are available at a local supermarket," she said.
Jen has noted since she started school how some people are hard on themselves when it comes to cooking.
"If they took pottery classes, they could fail multiple times with their clay creations, but not when it comes to cooking, there is so much self-doubt, people are so self-critical of their cooking skills, which I hope to reverse while they are with us," she said.
"We hope to instil self-confidence in our classes."
The successful business now has two teachers and 10 other staff working alongside Jen, who loves that her little passion project has succeeded.
"Five minutes before a class, I look around the room and think how lucky I am to be able to share my passion for food and the Italian table with others," she said.
In the name chosen for her business, Jen Nicita hoped to capture the essence of her work in its three simple words.
Our Italian Table is the name of Jen's cooking school, where the skills learnt are only part of the experience, as the dining and conversations around the table during the meal are the hallmarks of its success.
The school is located in Pokolbin on the family's 70-acre Nicita Estate and has wonderful views of the Brokenback Ranges and nearby vineyards.
Even though it became fully operational just as the COVID lockdown occurred in 2020, the school has now welcomed its 7000th guest and is thriving.
At the recent Hunter Valley Legends Awards, Our Italian Table won Tourist Operator of the Year. This is a credit to Jen and her staff's dedication in creating a destination where food, wine and conversations flourish.
"The first time I visited my husband's family, it was the full Italian meal experience, so different to my own - no Italian heritage in my family," she said.
"Beautiful food and wine, lots of co nversations at once, and everyone gathered around the family table.
"That is what I wanted to create with my business in Pokolbin: a table, food, and conversations like one big Italian family. That is why I called it Our Italian Table."
A career in the food industry alongside helping her husband, Vince Nicita, in his software business when her children were young would eventually lead the couple to buy their property at Pokolbin in 2017.
"We lived on the North Shore and had easy access to the Hunter wineries, and I always had a passion to start a cooking school. So the property was ideal for the family getaway and my school," she said.
In addition to the school, the property has a 12-acre vineyards which Scarbough Wines manage.
"We love drinking the wines, but none of us is interested in making wines, so we leave it to the experts," Jen said.
The school is noted for its pasta making lessons with the classes open to 10 people who may book singly, as a couple or in a group.
"The mixed groups are lovely as people learn about pasta making at the same time as they chat to the other guests," Jen said.
"We have such a variable guest list, so it's interesting for us and the guests."
The classes last four hours, with three devoted to cooking before the guests move on to tasting their work.
Jen bases the dishes where she can on local produce, but it must be seasonal, and all the ingredients must be easily procured.
"If you want to buy special pasta flour, that's your call, but I want people to make their pasta with ingredients they can afford and that are available at a local supermarket," she said.
Jen has noted since she started school how some people are hard on themselves when it comes to cooking.
"If they took pottery classes, they could fail multiple times with their clay creations, but not when it comes to cooking, there is so much self-doubt, people are so self-critical of their cooking skills, which I hope to reverse while they are with us," she said.
"We hope to instil self-confidence in our classes."
The successful business now has two teachers and 10 other staff working alongside Jen, who loves that her little passion project has succeeded.
"Five minutes before a class, I look around the room and think how lucky I am to be able to share my passion for food and the Italian table with others," she said.