Each month, WAtoday reaches out to the Perth community to discover three things people love most about our coastal capital and its surrounds. Today we feature Floreat resident Jacquie Chan, who opened the first Miss Chow’s in Claremont in 2015 and now owns eight restaurants across Perth and Margaret River, known for their boundary-pushing food, sleek interiors and killer cocktail focus. Chan has also founded a mega production kitchen making dumplings for supermarkets around the nation and a food processing plant in Forrestdale – but despite conquering one of the country’s most notoriously difficult business sectors, hospitality is still just her side hustle, being a pearl and diamond dealer by day.
Jacquie Chan, managing director of Perth dumpling darling Miss Chow’s, shares a few personal snaps of her favourite WA places and experiences.
I love Kings Park, and am very proud of it – it’s one of my go-to places when I have guests in town, especially spring, wildflower season, when I walk through the park and spend quite a bit of time looking at all the different flowers. I discover a different spot every time I go – I normally walk with my girlfriends, and we explore and find places, but my favourites are crossing the bridge and the Kokoda Track memorial walk. If I’m bringing people from out of town I drive them through the front entrance, take them to the giant boab tree and walk down to the fountains. I went to the Roxette concert there earlier this month, and it was my first concert in Kings Park – my lord, that was such a beautiful night. I have also been to Fraser’s Restaurant there a couple of times recently; I had forgotten how wonderful it is to eat there and look out at those views. It’s special from a global perspective, to have a park of this size so close to the city.
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I love Margaret River. Since I expanded Miss Chow’s there, I’ve spent quite a few months living down there and exploring every little nook and cranny whenever I have time. Living there has made me see it in a different light. I love the locals, and I’m learning every day how to live like a local. We have the best beaches and there are so many good walks. The Rotary South Bank River Trail behind the town is so beautiful, safe and tranquil. My girlfriend showed it to me; there are so many trails around there we Perthians don’t know about. There also quite a few trails along Carters Road. If I’m out to eat, my favourites are Vasse Felix and Amelia Park, where I quite often go – it’s very consistent, I can proudly bring guests there, and they don’t disappoint.
I love Esperance. I discovered it during the pandemic; I’m ashamed to say I’ve lived here for 37 years, and it took me that long to discover Esperance. What a scenic place, a stunning coastline, and the people are chilled and relaxed. I mean, it’s a cold place as well, so they’re literally chilled, but they’re also relaxed by nature. Even the kangaroos are chilling by the beach. I love Lucky Bay, in particular. It’s just so clean and pristine. The sand is so white it almost hurts your eyes. We are so lucky to have places like this. I’m really not quite sure why people go to Bali when our state is so beautiful.
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