Fun Stuff

Pair'd Margaret River weekend is here, and we are proudly the beer partner for the second year running and Pair’d up with an amazing programme of unique events, locations and iconic venues for the weekend. One of our faves and long time supporters of pouring south west made beers, with Eagle Bay Brewing Co among them is Chows Table. We sat down with Mal Chow, Founder and Head Chef a couple of weeks ago to chat Pair’d and get some good local intel.

About seven years ago, before Chows Table became a staple of the dining scene in the Margaret River Region, Chef Mal Chow was approached by Liz and Trav from House of Cards winery to open a restaurant. Trained in fine dining, he looked around the South west and realised there was something missing — authentic Asian food. Mal says “My first thoughts were doing something fine dining. But, of course, there are many excellent fine dining restaurants down here, Vasse Felix and other really good ones, so I thought let's do something a bit different and let’s go Asian. I think we picked well, and from what the response that we got pretty much straight away, yeah, it was a hit, so I'm glad I went down that route and yeah, it's gone well so far.”

Fast forward seven and a bit years - Paird Margaret River x Range Rover is back for 2025 and the  iconic Night Hawker at Chows Table is on the programme again, with Mal collaborating alongside Chef’s Victor Liong and ArChan Chan to create Hong Kong inspired street food style feast with restaurant level polish - with the extra sizzle of Mendy Indigo, Bangkok based DJ and cook - will be behind the decks and collaborating with Mal behind the pass on a dish inspired by her Thai roots. Of course these amazing eats and vibes are perfectly matched with an epic menu of House of Cards winery and Eagle Bay Brewing Co beers to go with.

Mal talked us through the vibe for this year’s Night Hawker event “ This year's vibe, it's like a continuation from what last year was, but bigger and bolder, especially with the chefs that we’ve got for the occasion. ArChan from Hong Kong and then Victor from Melbourne, each bringing their own different style of Asian. Archan is more Cantonese focus, then Victor he's got a bit of Chinese and Cantonese in there as well, where I’m Malay and Chinese, which is a little bit different also and then have Mendy in the mix with her Thai influence."

Night Hawker at Chows Table sold out on Pair’d Margaret River programme launch day, alongside some other one off events happening over the weekend. So since some of us won’t be able to make Night Hawker this year (sign up to Pair’d’s mailing list so you don’t miss out next year) here are some of Mal’s house favourites for dining out, go-to’s when visiting down south and good local intel while you are down here.

Best dining experience you’ve had recently ?

Actually, recently I was invited to Will's Domain to try the Pardoo Wagyu, which was launched in the region. Jed and Sergio cooked for us with Pardoo Wagyu beef and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.

Favourite thing to cook at home ?

I like to cook Italian at home and I love Italian food. It's like pasta, or good old lasagna, or something like those lines. And if I was going out for lunch today for some Italian my pick would be il Lido, I was part of an event raising funds for Leading Youth Forward and Nicola Lunardi from il Lido cooked up a Crab pasta and  it was delicious. 

Heading down south for the weekend, what do you recommend to mates ?

To start with Eagle Bay Brewing Co, great place to hang out, the beer offering is really good and the food that Josh and his team cook up is delicious. Also love Shelter, great location and good for the kids.

Vasse Felix is always a favourite, their food is beautiful and their wines delicious. I used to take my youngest Zeke there on days off to enjoy some food and a glass of wine - fun fact, they have a kids menu.
Also Fishbone is a firm favourite, really good sushi and awesome location to take the kids to. 

Food and drink favourites ?

Eagle Bay Kolsch with our Duck Spring Roll and plum sauce
House of Cards Grenache with a lamb dish or steak

What’s coming up at Chows Table so we can add it to our summer schedule ?

Bites menu is back, 12 to 3pm daily. Order at our garden bar window to snacks and drinks - then you can hang out in our patio are or on the lawn. 
Decks on Decks - DJ’s on the deck at House of Cards, snacks and drinks until 8pm. Gonna be a good one. Stay tuned for dates. 

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