Foodie heaven

Your mum always told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it’s true that if your first meal of the day is packed full of goodness, you are already kicking goals. For a leisurely weekend breakfast, Fremantle’s Bread In Common is the reigning champion. They started out baking organic wood-fired breads on the premises, and this welcoming warehouse space is now one of the city’s top ethical eateries. Pull up a seat at one of its communal tables and tuck into anything from quinoa salad to burnt-toast ice cream. Top tip: the ferments, pickles, preserves and charcuterie are all made in house.

And then there’s: The most memorable toast in town is found at Post inside the lovely State Buildings, its nut-and-seed loaf served with avocado and tomato. Over in Northbridge at the hip Sayers Sister, which is decked out with murals and vintage light fittings, the leek and parmesan croquettes are the go-to dish.

It all started with a raw food stall at Fremantle Markets. More than a decade on, the Fremantle diner previously known as Raw Food Kitchen has evolved into Mother, a one-stop shop for all things sustainable. Drop in to this Fremantle hotspot and you can take a yoga class or browse Perth’s largest selection of zero-waste and plastic-free lifestyle products, from homewares to pet products. Or, of course, you can feast on some of Perth’s natural food and wine. Favourites on the plant-based menu include an oyster and chestnut mushroom tartare and risotto with pea and samphire.

And then there’s: Vegan food gets the fine-dining treatment at Ten Acre Block in Perth’s Pan Pacific, where the degustation dinners include dishes such as banana blossom rillettes with confit leek and celeriac cream. For something more casual, Mount Lawley’s inviting Veggie Mama café offers veggie-based, all-day dining.

Sample the wholesome goodness from the kitchens of the New Norcia Benedictine Community at their Salvado Roadhouse, a 90-minute drive northwest of Perth. You can also buy their handmade treats from the online shop, where you’ll find Wyening Mission Farm tapenades and olives, New Norcia honey and olive oils, as well as pan chocolatti or nut cake, which they bake in the town’s century-old woodfired oven.

The Perth Hills are home to beautiful artisanal markets which showcase local producers and their crafts. The Kalamunda Artisan Market in the town’s central mall is where you’ll find Colmena untreated honey, hot-pepper sauce and preserved limes from Cherry Boots and gluten-free Choc A Choc Cookie Mix from The Natural Food Emporium – or you can take part in live demonstrations at the Kalamunda Farmers Market.

The first vineyards in the Perth Hills were planted in the 1880s but along with the grape vines, came the orchards. Core Cider is one of the most well-established producers in the region and offers a unique farm experience. Visitors can wander through the orchards and pick varieties of apples, pears, persimmons, plums, quince and pomegranate.