The start of a new month means one thing: a new round of House Favourites, WAGFG’s monthly round-up of what the team is eating, drinking, booking and buying.
The days are heating up, travel plans are taking shape, and summer’s just around the corner. From food-fuelled adventures across Asia to chef collabs, new pop-ups, long-time favourites, and gifts that give back, November’s picks are all about celebrating good taste and good times as the year draws to a close.
Some are new discoveries, others are old favourites we keep coming back to – all worth adding to your list this month.
Georgia Moore, Editor in Chief
Chicken and Rice Adventures: The Singapore Edition
A recent trip to Singapore became an informal pilgrimage through the many interpretations of the city’s unofficial national dish, chicken and rice. My standout was chef Daniele Sperindio’s chicken and rice donabe at the newly opened METT Singapore, part of the Sunset Hospitality Group. The crispy, sticky rice, lifted straight from the clay pot with a gingery punch, the chicken as tender as the service. Comfort and craft in perfect balance.
The Purple Hands WA Good Food Guide Kimberley Kids Dinner, Broome
One of my favourite events on our annual calendar, with 200 children from across the Kimberley region treated to a multi-course dinner designed for play, discovery, and delight. The brief is simple: eat with your hands, dance between courses, and celebrate both the new and the familiar. It’s an evening that captures the essence of why food matters and brings community together around a shared table.
Marjolein Delhaas Stationery
I’ve been a little obsessed with stationery since childhood. Hours organising notebooks, pens, and paper clips into systems of perceived productivity. My lifelong search for the perfect planner found its end at New Bahru in Singapore, with Marjolein Delhaas’s tall, undated daybook. Each spread gives equal space to a daily schedule and a to-do list, one day at a time, without the guilt of skipped pages.
The Brian Cole x Paul Iskov ‘Hearth x Fervor’ Collaboration Dinner
Chef collaborations thrive on creative chemistry and the recent Hearth x Fervor event, a meeting of Brian Cole and Paul Iskov, offered just that. The night was an intimate celebration of local produce and shared philosophy, and the menu showcased ingredients you don’t often get a chance to explore, like emu, dry-aged snapper, pepperberry pork belly, quandong, and a kangaroo tail jus. Dessert brought native lemongrass chiboust, ruby chocolate, wild rosella, and toasted marshmallows by the fire, closing the evening with warmth and conversation.
Simple Italian Classics at Piccolo Trattoria
Sometimes you just crave simple, no fuss Italian, and Piccolo Trattoria is the place to find it. Baby squid tubes are marinated with garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs, then grilled and served over mint, parsley, and rocket with a tarragon and dill mayonnaise. Owner Carlo Collova tells me the kitchen goes through 60 kilograms of it each week, a number that says more than any review could. The white anchovy fillets are another highlight, with blistered cherry tomatoes, caper salsa, and dill.
Max Brearley, Guide Editor
Canggu on my mind
After three weeks in Indonesia last month, I’m having withdrawals and checking flights to Bali for The Wild Harvest collab on the 20th of November. Celebrating four years of Santanera, head chef Andrés Becerra (ex-Movida Melbourne), is joined by Aditya Muskita (Esa, Jakarta), John Becker (Jono’s), and Selvina Lim (Lenny’s). Each will interpret “harvest,” and it also serves as a Relæ (Copenhagen) reunion for Muskita and Becerra. A week later, on the 27th, Perth’s own Elliot Sawaris (Nextdoor) heads to nearby Mosto to showcase quality Aussie beef and lamb. FOMO is real.
Plenty Gifting
I was auctioned off (for the second time in a month) at 10X10 Philanthropy’s recent event at His Majesty’s (which also happens to be home to the WAGFG awards in 2026). On the night, I learnt about Plenty Gifting, set up by Perth-based Anushka van der Veen. A meal gifting service, 100% of the profits from each sale go to food relief programmes in Western Australia. Ideal for those times when you want to help out a friend or a colleague who’s under the pump for whatever reason.
Lee Ho Fook
A recent dinner at Lee Ho Fook in Melbourne was memorable simply for challenging my expectations. Asked for both a favourite dish and a wine it’ll usually be meat or seafood, paired with something from these shores, often my own backyard. On the night, the two clear winners for me were the signature crispy eggplant with spiced red vinegar (it is a classic) and the 2021 XIGE Estate N28 Chardonnay from Ningxia in China. Chef-owner Victor Liong tells me he’ll bring a bottle for this month’s Pair’d festival and his event at Chow’s Table. Coals to Newcastle anyone?
Yes, Chef! At Lawson Flats
Is this a self nom? Strictly speaking, it’s a shout to WAGFG partner Lawson Flats and good friends and colleagues Fleur Bainger and Max Veenhuyzen. On Monday, 24th of November, we’ll be appearing together for a special end of year Yes, Chef! A discussion about our collective experience as travelling freelancers, it should serve as an insight into what we do and how others can make inroads into the industry. No doubt there’ll be a few tales of the ecstasy and the pain of dining for a living.
Fleck Journals
A few things I love came together this week. First, to encourage people to write on a daily basis. It’s advice I don’t always take myself. Second, something that I can buy a stack of and have for easy gifting (it is almost the season after all). And last, seeing someone run with an idea that they’re passionate about and giving it a good go. Which brings me to Fleck Journals, from WAGFG alum Anna Franklyn. They are described as “tools for reflection, beautifully designed decks and notebooks to help you slow down and reflect.” I think we could all do with a bit of that. Preorders are open and launch is imminent.
Abbie Kinsella, Content and Partnerships Executive
Albany Rock Oysters
It’s an exciting time of year, and not just because it’s summer and Christmas, but because Albany Rock Oyster season has arrived. Sustainably farmed by Leeuwin Coast in the pristine waters of Albany, these oysters are a true reflection of place: sweet, creamy, distinctly West Australian. I’ll be feasting on dozens this season, preferably with a cold Riesling in hand. Keep an eye out – they’re popping up across WA’s best bars, pubs and restaurants. You’ll probably find me at Si Paradiso on a Sunday, oysters at $2 a pop, a scroppino in the other hand, feeling very smug about living here.
Vietnam
Everyone told me I’d love Vietnam – and they were right. What I didn’t expect was how much. The scenery and culture were extraordinary, but it was the food and hospitality that completely won me over. Yes, there were many bahn mi and bowls of pho devoured, but my standout discoveries were com tam; the sweet, smoky bowl of joy that is bun cha; and the pleasure of tearing into a hot, crispy slice of bahn xeo, wrapping it in rice paper with an abundance of herbs. All best enjoyed on a plastic stool with a cold beer as motorbikes zip past in every direction. Beyond the street food, Ho Chi Minh City’s bar and dining scene is electric, with a new generation of talent pushing boundaries. A few standouts to bookmark: Rabbit Hole, Layla, and Elgin.
Fleck
It’s no secret that my mind runs at a million miles an hour and rarely switches off. I’ve tried journaling before, but it usually ends up feeling more “dear diary” than genuinely helpful. Enter Fleck – the thoughtful journaling project from my colleague (and more importantly, friend) Anna Franklyn, who’s poured so much heart and energy into it over the past year. What I love most about Fleck is that it isn’t about perfecting a ritual, but rather offering a gentle way to reflect without pressure. The Fleck Set also makes for the perfect thoughtful gift this giving season.
Intercontinental Da Nang
The standout stay of my trip – and one of the most extraordinary I’ve ever experienced – was InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. Set within the Son Tra Nature Reserve, it feels like a world in itself with rainforest behind you and sweeping coastline ahead. Designed by the legendary Bill Bensley, every corner and intricate detail tells a story, with a monochrome palette inspired by the spirit of yin and yang. But it’s not just the setting.
The resort’s six restaurants span a range of styles and cuisines, with La Maison 1888 leading the charge as Da Nang’s only Michelin-starred restaurant. Here, three-Michelin-starred chef Christian Le Squer helms a tasting menu that merges classical French technique with Vietnamese nuance – think scallop mousseline topped with Vietnamese herb granita from the garden, and gnocchi that defies gastronomical science. Even the wine list is overseen by Vietnam’s first Michelin-starred sommelier. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime stay that’s truly all-encompassing – and absolutely worth the flight to spend an entire holiday here.
Magnolia BBQ
When I heard Jacob D’Vauz and his crew at Special Deliveries were moving on from their cult-favourite pop-up at Doubleview Bowls Club, I knew something exciting was brewing – and Magnolia BBQ in Victoria Park is exactly that. Taking over Modus Coffee by night, it’s all about big, punchy, flavour-packed food. My advice: order one of everything. The Goods Bakery roti with curry sauce is unmissable, the beef tartare ‘pie tee’ and Skull Island prawns in sesame sambal are knockout, and the beef rib iga bakar and egg noodles with chicken fat butter are next-level. Drinks are no-alcohol, but you won’t miss it – the Half n Half Calamansi Iced Tea is a refreshing match to the fire and smoke of the menu.
Ketaki Diwanji, Partnerships
Besk
I discovered this gem when attending the fifth anniversary dinner for Mettle , and it has since become one of my favourite go‑to bars. It strikes the perfect balance between neighbourhood pub and chic date spot, and my husband and I find ourselves there nearly every other weekend. The boutique bottle shop tucked inside is a charming bonus. It’s no wonder Besk was named WAGFG’s Pub of the Year for 2025.
Pica
What can I say about this little spot of perfection? Ideal for after‑work drinks, it feels effortless and cool. The atmosphere is mellow yet lively, and it never disappoints when you’re catching up with friends. The fact that it’s a real local institution just adds to the attraction.
Double Rainbow
Hidden inside The Rechabite in Northbridge, this Korean‑inspired restaurant shines on nights out with girlfriends. The flavours are bold, the vibe is fun, and it’s become a reliable favourite when I want somewhere with character and energy.
Boatshed Market
Every visit here hits the mark, but it’s those fresh‑cut flowers that win me over every time. From the produce to the ambience, Boatshed Market delivers a standout experience. Perfect for a Sunday wander and a treat.
HER on Oxford
When I moved from Sydney three years ago, HER on Oxford salon topped every “best in Perth” list – and it does not disappoint. A haircut comes with your favourite summer cocktail and an indulgent head massage, what’s not to love?
Looking for more recommendations? Check out the House Favourites archives, or dive into Off Menu for all the latest food and drink news around the State.