FAQ’S – Everything you need to know

General Questions

What if I have a food allergy?

We can make gluten free pasta on request, but should you be Coeliac, please be aware that there is always flour particles in the air and these may also be present on the pasta machines and equipment being used on the day.  If you are Coeliac and are affected by the use of flour in the same room, unfortunately we do request that you do not attend for you own health.

Unfortunately we can not accommodate dairy intolerance or a vegan diet.

Please note that as we are an Italian Cooking School the use of tomatoes, onion, garlic and nuts do feature heavily in our menus and are difficult to avoid in our dishes.

Whilst every attempt will be made to accommodate individual dietary requirements we are a group class and food is made to share and some recipes being made can not have ingredients substituted.

If you have any concerns about other dietary requirements or any of the recipes please contact Jen via email or on 0412 229 521 prior to booking a class.

Mobility access

Yes we have disability access on our venue.

A disability bathroom is available as is a disability car space.

Our cooking school has a high table that guests normally stand around whilst cooking.  Stools are available when needed, but these do not have a back on them.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters will not be able to be left within the cooking school whilst the class is running, but able to be moved in and out for access.

We request that prior to booking a spot in a class that you contact us either by email or directly on 0412 229 521 so that we can ensure the class you book into is best suited to your needs.

Are you BYO?

Yes we are a BYO venue, so please bring your alcoholic beverages and anything else that you would like to enjoy on the day.

We adhere to all RSA rules and responsibility.

We have bottled water available for all classes

I need to change the date of my class or the details of a guest/s attending

If you need to change the date of the class you are booked into, please contact Our Italian Table as soon as possible.

Tickets are non refundable, but a date change is able to be processed if more than 7 days notice is given prior to the date of your class.

If another guest is attending in place of a guest booked in, please contact Our Italian Table and let us know the date of the class, the name of the guest not attending and the name of the new guest attending and any associated dietary information.  As much notice as possible is appreciated, if the guest change occurs within 72 hours of the date of the class, dietary requirements may not be able to be fully accommodated.

You have not received your Ticket or Gift Voucher

If you have purchased tickets or a gift voucher and not actually received them,  please check your junk/spam folder as they can often land there.

If still not there, please email Jen with the details of your purchase:
– Name of the purchaser
– Date of purchase
– What you purchased and amount paid
– Transaction number/e-way receipt

Once I have received this information I will locate your tickets or gift vouchers and resend them to you.

I have received a gift voucher, how do I redeem it?

Congratulations on receiving a gift voucher.

Your gift voucher will contain a 16 digit code eg AB12-CD34-EF56-GH78.

Our Gift Vouchers can be purchased in various amounts and thus can be used towards purchasing any of our classes, picnic hampers or products we have for sale.

Please visit our website and select a class with availability that you would like to attend.  Enter the number of tickets that you would like to purchase, then proceed to the cart.  Once in the cart the first question is “Do you have a Gift Voucher”,  enter the gift voucher code exactly as it appears, be be sure to enter O and 0 (zero) correctly and then validate the code, the amount of your gift voucher will be deducted from the total owing.  If you have more than one gift voucher please repeat the above step.  Once the voucher/s have been validated then proceed to complete the booking, here you will be asked to enter all the details for the guests attending and any additional notes and complete the payment for any balance owning.

 

If you have any questions please contact Jen by email providing as much information about your voucher as possible

I would like to book a private class

We love hosting private functions within the cooking school.

Our cooking school is designed to host 10 guests in a class.

Please contact Jen to discuss how we can tailor make a private function to suit the needs of your group.

Information for attending a class

Classes all begin at 10am, unless otherwise stated on your ticket.  Conclusion time at the venue will depend on the class that you have booked into.

A few things to note before the class:
– Comfortable clothes are recommended and closed in shoes are required whilst in the cooking school.
– We advise not to wear jewellery such as rings and bracelets as we are rolling pasta and you will have dough all over your hands.
– We are an outdoor venue and lunch will be held under the pergola at the conclusion of the cooking experience.  Please ensure that you bring appropriate clothing to suit the weather conditions on the day, as we are on the top of a hill we do get extremes of temperatures and conditions.
– The cooking class will be conducted inside the cooking school but we will be dining outside, so please come prepared for all/any weather condition.
– A reminder that we are a BYO venue.

Where are we located?

The cooking school is located on Nicita Estate at 138 Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin NSW.

We are located at the end of the road, turn right into the drive way and come up to the yellow Tuscan villa on top of the hill, please park in the carpark and wonder over to the building beside the villa where your cooking class awaits.

What do we need to bring on the day?

All you need to bring on the day is your sense of fun and anything you wish to drink
– Aprons will be provided for you to wear during the duration of the class.
– Comfortable clothes are recommended and closed in shoes are required whilst in the cooking school.
– We advise not to wear  jewellery such as rings and bracelets as we are rolling pasta and you will have dough all over your hands.
– We are an outdoor dining venue and lunch will be held under the pergola at the conclusion of your class.  Please ensure that you bring appropriate clothing to suit the weather conditions on the day, as we are on the top of a hill we do get extremes of temperatures and conditions.  The cooking class will be conducted inside the cooking school but we will be dining outside, so please come prepared for all/any weather condition.
– A reminder that we are a BYO venue. 
 

Other Questions we always get asked.

Where is the best place to stay nearby?

We are often asked about nearby accommodation for those attending the cooking school.

There are numerous wonderful accommodation options in the Hunter Valley ranging 5 star hotels through to boutique cabins doted around properties.  The best place for all accommodation details is to contact the Hunter Valley Tourism Centre who will be able to answer all your questions. Ph: 02 4993 6700.

For accommodation in walking distance from the cooking school and all located on Mistletoe Lane we have a large variety from homes on private properties,  boutique cottages,  through to beautiful hotels.

Below is a list of these properties, in no particular order,  just from our property going back down the street.

We do not offer accommodation on our property, the main house on the property is our private home.

Activities, Experiences, Vineyards and Cellar Doors to do whilst you are visiting the Valley?

There are so many activities to do whilst you are staying in the valley.

A few of my favourites are:

 

Food/Dining Experiences

Nineteen – located at The Vintage, great for all day dining options and families.

Bimbadgen Pizza – located at Bimbadgen Winery,  great for an early dinner or Sunday lunch before heading home.

Pescara – your local neighbourhood Italian,  be greeted by Nicole and made to feel like a returning guest, awesome food.

 

Wine Tastings

Scarborough – located in the original family home and made to feel like family nothing bets this amazing experience and awesome wines.

Audrey Wilkinson – the view, the service and of course the wines, definitely worth the visit.

Misty Glen Wines – run by a local couple, a true experience of vineyard to glass.  Eric, Vicci and their gorgeous pups are source of information and entertainment.

Wombat Crossing Vineyard – a stunning location tucked away behind gates and a windy driveway.  You will be greeted by Simon or Ian and will immediately be entranced by their passion for the Hunter.

 

Entertainment/Activities

Stay n’ Sip – Mercedes and Pierre will bring the wine tasting to you. . In the comfort of your accommodation they bring with them a wealth of local knowledge, unique wines and an event filled with laughter and memories.

Horse Riding/Segway Tours – time to get away, relax and take in the scenery from a horse riding experience suited to your ability, a horse and carriage ride for the family or a segway tour to get the heart pumping, the choice is yours.

Hot Air Ballooning – the ultimate experience to do whilst in the Hunter Valley, love heights or be a little scared the experience is totally unforgettable.

 

Please visit the following websites which will provide you with a full list of activities available:

Around Hermitage – this is the local region that Our Italian Table is located in, please visit the website for all information in this area.

Hunter Valley Tourism Centre – for everything associated with the Hunter Valley the Tourism centre is a wealth of information.