Western Australia: Judy's top food tips

Pepper and Salt restaurant's executive chef Silas Masih and Judy Bailey.

There's no end of great places to visit in this state. Judy Bailey singles some out...

• Have dinner at Pepper and Salt Restaurant at Forest Hill Winery on the corner of Myers Rd and South Coast Highway in Denmark. Silas Masih is the executive chef there and he specialises in modern Australian cuisine. Plenty of seafood and spice, reflecting his Fijian Indian heritage. The chilli coconut prawns with eggplant kusundi was a standout.

• If you're as keen on your whisky as I am you won't want to miss the Great Southern Distilling Company at 252 Frenchman Bay Rd in Albany. Try the director's cut single malt.

• Drop into the Thurlby Herb Farm, in Gardiner Rd, Walpole, for lunch. They do, among other things, a magnificent home-made soup, Rosemary scones and great salads. There's a shop full of super gifts and their own herbal products. Our wardrobes and linen cupboard are now wonderfully fragrant thanks to their Spicewood clothing protector.

• The Bushfood Factory and Cafe at 233 Piggot Martin Rd, Young's Siding, was a revelation. No edible bugs, but a tasty array of bush plant and herb flavours for sale in sauces, chutneys and mayonnaises.

• In Perth, check out the Print Hall in Brookfield Place, 125 St Georges Tce. It's a multi-level dining and bar precinct in an old newspaper building. We had a great meal at the Apple Daily. Try the sharing plates of Pilipino sausages, crispy soft-shell crab and saltwater duck. Mae Roong's red curry of crispy fried port and pineapple was a winner, too.

• Mrs Jones Cafe in Denmark does great coffee and gourmet food.

WHERE TO STAY

Pan Pacific Perth Hotel, 207 Adelaide Tce.

Conveniently located in downtown Perth close to the Swan River. Heavenly beds after flight from New Zealand.

Karma Chalets, 1572 South Coast Highway, Denmark.

Comfortable, self-contained, self-catering chalets and a luxurious spa. The bamboo massage is highly recommend - those heated bamboo rollers work miracles.

Hideaway Haven, 21 Yokanup Rd, Albany.

Upmarket B&B. The really special thing about this place is the food. The owner, Maggie Vansanten, is a spectacular cook. She offers a different breakfast every day and obviously delights in surprising her guests with culinary treats. Maggie will cook your dinner, too. Her Asian steamboat's a specialty. And check out her Hideaway Infusion package. Chef Dan Sharpe will take you on a tour of local producers and wineries to find the ingredients for your dinner in the evening. He will then help you release your inner foodie as you prepare your meal together.

The Terrace Hotel, 237 St Georges Tce, Perth.

A historic building in the heart of the CBD. Exquisite rooms with a Japanese influence.