DOWN SOUTH: valentine's day lunch at miss chow's (and why we always start next door)

Turns out running a marketing business in the South West means I also accidentally became a professional eater, wine drinker and explorer of everything this corner of WA has to offer. Someone has to do it. DOWN SOUTH is my space on The Wave for all the delicious, beautiful, completely non-marketing things this place keeps throwing at me — the long lunches, the cellar doors, the hidden gems and the spots that make you feel genuinely lucky to live down here. First up, a Valentine's Day lunch that had it all. 🍷

If you're going to do Valentine's Day properly down here, you may as well do it right. And for us, that means starting at Edwards Wines before we've even thought about food.

Edwards has a special place in our world — partly because the wines are genuinely excellent, but mostly because my six year old niece Matilda has declared it her favourite winery. Yes, a six year old has a favourite winery. It's because there's a Tiger Moth biplane at the entrance also called Matilda, and she loses her mind every single time we visit - telling everyone its her plane. Given that she was born in England, just like the plane's journey started, it feels like it was always going to be her spot.

The story behind the plane is worth knowing — founder Brian Edwards flew Matilda solo from England to Perth to honour his father who was declared missing in action during WW2. It gives the whole place a depth that you feel as soon as you walk through those impressive sliding doors.

And then you see the views. Large windows looking out over the vineyards — it's the kind of outlook that makes you want to cancel the rest of your day and just stay there with a glass in hand.

We started with a wine tasting at the cellar door before heading next door, and the sparkling and the rosé were the immediate standouts. So when both turned up again in our wine flight with lunch, it felt like a very good sign. The NV Sparkling is fresh and lively with a persistent flavour that just lingers, and the 2025 Shiraz Grenache Rose is the kind of wine that makes you want to find any excuse to open another bottle. I may or may not still have one sitting in the fridge. (I definitely do yay)

If you haven't been to the cellar door yet, it genuinely needs to be on your list for when you’re next down south.

Then, next door, Miss Chow's for a Valentine's Day lunch.

We'd been wanting to do the tasting menu for a while. At $110pp it's a proper occasion lunch, and it really felt like one. The restaurant shares that same stunning vineyard outlook — sitting at your table looking out over the vines while course after course arrives is a pretty wonderful way to spend a few hours.

For us, Miss Chow's also ticks a box that not everywhere can — they are 100% nut free across their entire menu. My partner has a slight nut allergy, and when you're committing to a six course tasting menu where you have zero control over what's coming out of the kitchen, that kind of certainty is everything as we could just enjoy the food.

And enjoy it we did. Here's what came out:

First — Scallop Ceviche with citrus emulsion, pickled beetroot and herb oil, and Duck Sang Chow Bow with roast duck, water chestnut and lettuce. The duck parcels were delicate and punchy at the same time — a great way to start.

Second — three dishes and this is where it really hit its stride. Crispy Chicken Dumplings with Mt Barker free range chicken, dumpling sauce and spicy mayo (an absolute standout — we could have eaten a second round), Steamed Wagyu Truffle Dumplings with Margaret River Wagyu, soy and chilli oil, and Salt & Pepper Squid lightly coated with chilli and spring onions.

Large plates — Saddletail Snapper in a Malaysian laksa broth (genuinely one of the best things I ate all day), a Seasonal Green Salad with radish, fennel and yuzu dressing, and the Rottnest Crayfish Fried Rice with Rottnest Rock Lobster, edamame and shiitake — which tasted incredibly fresh and was every bit as good as it sounds.

Full transparency — just before the final course, there was about a 30 minute wait and it wasn't just our table. Nothing seemed to be leaving the kitchen for a stretch, then all of a sudden everything was back on track. These things happen in a busy kitchen and it didn't derail the afternoon at all, but worth knowing if you're on a tight schedule. (We had post-Valentine’s plans to watch the State of Origin game with friends).

Oh, and one more thing. Miss Chow's has what I am fairly confident is the best view from a restaurant bathroom in the entire South West.

Edwards Wines — 687 Ellen Brook Rd, Cowaramup — start here, always

Miss Chow's Margaret River — same address, next door