It’s only been a few days since I arrived in Perth and the 45-degree heat hasn’t deterred me from shopping and eating. Not much does!

The first thing I did was to head straight to Subiaco, which is where you can find the finest dim sum and Peking duck in the city. It’s the city’s hub for restaurants, fine food shops and high-street fashion. After enjoying a watermelon mojito on the terrace at the famous Subiaco Hotel, I headed to Wagamama for a super-sized bowl of ramen noodles immersed in miso with prawn, fried tofu, wakame and marinated mushrooms. It was just as good as I remember it being in London.

I had been told not to miss the churros and hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Churro and, despite the heat, I soon had a chocolate pot full of rich, molten, Spanish chocolate in front of me, plus a pile of sugary doughnuts for dipping – so divine!

I just couldn’t wait to spend some time in my favourite food store – Simon Johnson Quality Foods. My heart did a little flutter when I caught sight of the shop’s sign and I sighed with pleasure as I entered the stylish shop. It’s small and the shelves are crammed with rows and rows of preserves, oils, chocolates (gorgeous Easter eggs too), pastas, hand-harvested salts and aged vinegars packaged in simply designed boxes and jars. There are also imported items from France, especially teas, chocolates and cheeses. An entire section is dedicated to molecular gastronomy, including all the potions and equipment for professional chefs and for us ordinary folk to try at home. While browsing, I sipped on a delicious cup of AllPress coffee and tasted all their treats. It was very difficult to choose, but I am bringing home some pretty, coloured foil-wrapped fish, huge couscous pearls, a jar of truffle honey and a tin of Ortiz anchovies – yay!

Tomorrow I’ll catch the train to David Jones, a luxurious department store that has the best food hall around, for an Australian olive oil tasting. While I’m there I’ll pick up some French salted caramels, a tub of Maggie Beers quince paste and a packet or two of orange-blossom-flavoured Iranian fairy floss.

A trip to Ikea is on the cards on the way home – the Swedish meatballs and oversized rye cracker breads are really good there.

I’m off to Fremantle now to meet up with ex-Capetonian chef Graeme Shapiro to have a chat about his new restaurant here in Perth.

Happy tasting!

 Abigail