A FORMER Grange woman has gone from waiting on tables in the seaside town to co-owning a fine-dining eatery on the shores of an Italian lake.

Joanna Cavagnis grew up in South Lakeland where she embarked upon a career in the hospitality industry which led the 37-year-old to her European husband.

She and chef Paolo moved to his hometown of Bergamo, near Milan, in 2013 where the pair set their sights on a dream of opening a restaurant.

After looking at different places around the Lombardy town, the couple decided to look further afield.

"I wanted to be near a lake again," said Joanna. "Paolo took me to a village called Sarnico on Lake Iseo which is 40 minutes from Bergamo and it's a hop from the water."

With their fine-dining restaurant the duo hope to "tap" into the English market although they are "probably the only restaurant that doesn't do pizzas".

"It's quite big but also big enough to grow with us as we do catering on the side," said Joanna, who studied hotel reception at college before working in London where she met her husband. "It's traditional Italian food, with English food as well which the locals like."

One of the firm favourites among loyal customers is a meat ravioli called Casoncelli from Bergamo - as each Italian region has its own spin on the cuisine - plus one of Paolo's signature dishes, a Tuscan seafood soup.

And on the menu at Ristorante Da Luca is a taste of home with a very British option of fish and chips.

"It's a much slower pace of life which centres around family here," she said. "There's no rushing around and they don't eat until 9.30pm , and I was used to 7pm!"

At the helm of the Italian lake district venture, Joanna leaves all the cooking with head chef Paolo who gained his experience working his way up the kitchen career ladder in London.

"I can't cook to save my life", said the former Grange Hotel worker.

With the business a success already, and a cookery school set to open in the summer, the restaurant owners have no thoughts of returning.

"I don't think I'd move back, there are worse places in the world and I feel quite lucky I've had the opportunity to live in another country."