The Cottage restaurant clocks up a decade of serving fine fare in the Hunter Valley.
Story + Photos Mark Muller
On a warm summer evening just before Valentine’s Day, the cool, gently lit rooms of The Cottage in Scone, NSW, start to fill with diners. It’s a relaxed, stylish and friendly space – young people who have been working outdoors are freshly showered, retirees have put on a collared shirt or a bit of jewellery, and the floor staff, led by co-owner Tammy Selwood, are attentive and efficient. It’s clear people have made an effort – and a meal here warrants it. Many are greeted by name, all are met with a smile and shown smoothly to their seats. The informed, efficient service strikes a sweet spot between curiosity, warmth and openness without falling into the intrusive or pushy. Questions are asked, suggestions are made and the whole thing rolls along through the courses as the summer sunlight climbs the walls and fades, and the burble of conversation mixed with laughter rises and falls. Exceptional food comes out quickly and without fuss.
One bloke – obviously a regular – has 2 guests from North America with him. He orders his usual: a steak. Asked how he wants it done, he replies, “Very dead!” There’s a laugh. “I can’t believe after all these years we haven’t been able to convert you,” Tammy says. “And you never will!” he replies. The banter is jovial, and no one is shamed for killing the cow twice.
For the past 10 years, The Cottage on Scone’s main street has met a high bar for championing localism while maintaining a worldly outlook. “I wanted to bring food to the people that produce it,” chef and co-owner Colin Selwood says.
This story excerpt is from Issue #160
Outback Magazine: April/May 2025
