Tucked away behind a hedge in the Hunter Valley village of Greta is a portal straight to Tuscany.
It's called The Table Guesthouse.
Enter through the fragrant, floral courtyard draped in grapevines and say hello to the chickens. Host Jo Minett and her friendly Jack Russell-cross sidekick, Harvey, will be waiting to extend a warm welcome.
And, perhaps, a glass of wine.
Minett owned and ran the popular Rocksalt restaurant in Newcastle for many years and took over the lease at The Table Guesthouse on Water Street in July.
"I fell in love with the building and the private and gorgeous garden," she tells Weekender.
"I felt that it suited my style of customer experience and my food style, and that it offered the opportunity for me to do all of my favourite things: provide memorable customer experiences and my passion for cooking, gardening and preserving, all in a small village close to the vineyards.
"The owners were inspired by the auberge - rural European style, south of France, Spain but especially Tuscany - and the idea of table d'hote (table of the host/set menu) dining."
The guesthouse's interior draws on traditional European influences with its dark timber raked ceilings and its classy but comfortable French country-style sitting room with a fireplace.
There are three guest rooms upstairs.
Minett is a warm and attentive host who loves a chat - and a laugh. She is also an accomplished cook keen to plate up memorable meals for her guests.
"I like to take old-school familiar dishes, simplify them, and bring them back to life with a fresh twist," she explains.
"I love it when people comment that they used to have this as a child or they had this in France and it brings back happy memories. I like to create new memories of a familiar dish."
Minett loves to cook confit duck sausage cassoulet with preserved lemon, fennel salad and roast radicchio; polenta-crusted chicken breast kiev with truffle butter; barramundi on puy lentils with smoked eggplant and house-made mandarin jam (her favourite); golden syrup steamed pudding with mascarpone mint; and spiced poached pears with cinnamon custard.
She's also partial to bouillabaisse.
"I can't get away from my love of seafood, which is what I grew up with. I travel to Nelson Bay co-op to hand pick what I want."
She sources produce from Hunter Valley suppliers like Hungerford Meat Co and The Smelly Cheese Shop, and also grows her own herbs on-site. Her neighbours kindly ensure she has enough lemons and limes to preserve.
Minett is opening the doors to The Table Guesthouse's rustic dining room on Monday and Tuesday evenings, starting November 22. Seating is limited to 12 guests, so bookings are essential. The three-course menu will change daily and is designed to share.
"It's like dining in my home - personal service, intimate and very relaxed," she says.
"The menu depends on the weather, what's in season and - selfishly - what I feel like cooking! The first to book can choose the dish of the day, which will challenge me and keep it interesting."
She also offers "handpicked experiences" for her guests that are not limited to wine tasting: think historical tours, bushwalking through the Broken Back Range, picnics, art classes and day trips to the Valley with Minett in the driver's seat.
"I also offer bespoke body lotions for my guests by mixing essential oils, decided by you, with shea butter and coconut oil, for you to enjoy during your stay," she says.
"I love this. This is what I was born to do. I'm home."
