I recently returned to home brewing for the first time since the early 80s. My son Callum and I have spent a lot of time trying to find a one-stop-shop for equipment and consumables in Perth. TWOC is it. The proprietor, Roy Ladhams is a veritable walking encyclopaedia on home brewing.

Beer - Extract Brewing
A full range of quality, freshly canned extracts which will enable you to brew your favourite style - local or international.

All Grain Brewing (mash/boil/ferment/bottle or keg)
The range of malts is as staggering as it is exotic. Just walk into the malted grain area and the aroma is intoxicating (no pun intended). Roy and the crew will crush individual grain bills to order.

Education
TWOC holds regular all-grain brewing demonstrations, usually on Sundays. There is nothing better than the practical learning of the craft from experts. Brewing great beer is not difficult as long as your follow some simple rules, starting with fastidious sanitation.

Equipment
There's not a lot to say here. If it is used in home brewing, you will find it at TWOC. From a Braumeister to a bucket; a fermenter to a funnel; a grain crusher to a grommet; a stockpot to a strainer; a heat belt to hops full of happiness; a thermometer to a thank you, and yeasties behaving like beasties - it's all at TWOC. :)

Extras
Want to make wine, cider or ginger beer? No problem!

It's all good at TWOC, but the best is the service. That's why we take the somewhat long drive from home - it's worth every traffic jam. Callum and I especially want to thank Roy (and Julie) for putting up with all our questions as we continue on this fascinating journey in the art of making great beer at home.

This might sound like a glowing review, but I can assure you that if you visit TWOC and chat with Roy, you know immediately that I am telling it exactly how it is.

If you tend to get tired of the 'same old, same old' meat lines sold in supermarkets, WA Exclusive Meats in Carlisle is tops. It's a small shop, but it is packed with choice. As for value, you pay for what you get - superior meat, superior cuts and superior personalised service.

I especially love their super-sized T-Bones. They are so thick there's no problem getting that lovely BBQ char on the outside while still having a juicy rare steak (if that's how you like it). Yesterday, I bought 4 free-range chicken marylands - all up about 2 kilos - huge and delicious.

One of the best things about this shop is the availability of free-range, grass-fed, organic beef from Dandaragan. From my experience, most online suppliers demand at least double the price for grass-fed beef. Here, it is just a couple of dollars per kilo extra. It's absolutely worth it if you appreciate the health benefits and superior taste of grass-fed beef - the way beef USED to be and should always be. Check for yellow fat, not the white stuff you get with feedlot, grain fed animals.

The crew here has an absolute can-do attitude and always make you feel valued. Great spit hire too!

This is an awesome liquor store.
Lou and Helen Spagnolo (owners), Basil, Jason, Steve and others absolutely know how to make a customer feel appreciated. Just the other day, I walked in and ordered a carton of a Coopers product and they knew I always buy Little Creatures. They asked me if I really wanted Coopers, and I immediately knew I was daydreaming. Great stuff!!
The wine selection is superb, from quaffers to top shelf with a super WA range.
I especially love their craft beers - local - imported from UK boutique brewers, and other internationals.
There is always plenty of staff on hand and nothing is too much trouble. I honestly have never been made to feel unwelcome. This is a credit to the management.
On top of all this they have a great loyalty/rewards program.
It is worth going out of your way to visit Liquorbarons, Carlisle.

Approximate cost: $N/A

I have usually stayed at the main Crown Hotel at Burswood, but wanted to try the Holiday Inn on the same site to compare value and service. The check-in was efficient, but it lacked the superior welcome and service offered by Crown. I guess this is a problem when we start comparing. The restaurants were more café/bistro style - good for more casual dining or a sunny weekend afternoon. The room was well presented but small and a bit uninteresting in the décor. This Holiday Inn is in an unfortunate location as the entry is immediately adjacent to the main road exit from the main Crown complex. It is an extremely busy road due to the Crown Hotel and casino/entertainment venues. More positively, the main Crown complex is only a stroll away where you have the best of everything.

This small family business, run by a Vietnamese couple, is outstanding.

Redfin Fresh Seafood provides a delectable range of fresh whole fish, filleted fish, crustaceans, shellfish as well as top-shelf lines such as local green-lip abalone and sea cucumbers. If you can't find what you want in the fresh section, there is ample to choose from in the freezers. There is also a good selection of seasonal live product such a lobster, mud crab and marron. If you try this shop, ask about giant leader tiger prawns (Occasionally available).

They even have cooler bags and condiments.

This is an intimate little spot in a super location, and Kevin, his wife and boys ALWAYS make you feel welcome.

I was reluctant for a long time to shop at Burswood Seafood, as everything comes frozen. I do love my seafood fresh. But, I was in for a surprise. They must know how to freeze seafood the right way. I now have no hesitation to shop there, as the seafood always delights. Of course, you must treat the product right when you get it home.

I guess one of the great benefits of the frozen product is the wider availability of product. If you are looking for a seafood line that is a little out of the ordinary, there is a good chance you will find it here.

If you have any doubts like I once had, I really recommend you try Burswood Seafood. The service is tops and the long queues of customers are a good indication that this business is doing something right.

This has been my main medical centre for 13 years. It is very stable with a very low turnover of doctors, nurses and medical receptionists.

The level of professional medical expertise at Victoria Medical Group is exceptional. Apart from my usual doctor appointments, I have had several minor surgical procedures in the stand-alone, well-staffed and equipped treatment facility. I have never needed an appointment or been kept waiting if I have needed something relatively urgent that did not warrant going to emergency at a major hospital. The range of additional services such as dietetics and visiting specialist medical testing is excellent.

The front desk staff are amazing and will always try to fit me in, even when my doctor is fully booked. My doctor even rings me personally sometimes to say when he can see me.

This is what a professional medical and health service should be.

I don't have much hair left, and I got a bit narky about being charged full price ($25++) for a 5 or 6 minute trim. I was, therefore, delighted to find F10 Quick Cuts when they opened in my shopping centre in East Victoria Park, WA. The location is super.

This delightful little shop is staffed entirely by young male and female Asian hairdressers, and they really know their haircuts. I have been there many times and have seen quick trims to complex ladies' hairstyling. The incredible, almost unbelievable thing is the price - A FLAT $10 every time. Just put your $10 note in the machine, take the ticket and soon you'll be in the chair.

The premises are spotlessly clean, and the staff are super pleasant. The $10 price tag does not a rush-job. They always put the finishing on and little extras like eyebrow trims are all part of the service.

Provided you're not looking to impersonate Dame Edna, or wanting a foot massage at the same time, this is by far the best value and service in town.

Approximate cost: $10

Paul Lindquist, and his staff at Soul Pattinson, East Victoria Park, WA has been my pharmacist for about 10 years. This pharmacy knows how to make you feel like a valued customer.

It's not just that they ALWAYS remember me. It is easy to see Paul and his staff make it a special point to get to know as many of their customers as possible. If I need a script, an OTC medication, a medical test, medical advice, general pharmacy lines, whatever I need it is available 99% of the time. On the very rare occasion they do not have what I need, it will be there the next day. The location is super too, right on Albany Highway near medical centres and the Park Centre shopping complex.

This is not the cheapest pharmacy (not expensive either), but they do price match. It's so great to walk in and be recognised, welcomed, served and just cared about as a human being.

Approximate cost: $N/A

I cannot survive without cooking my favourite Asian dishes at home. Thai, Chinese, Balinese, Vietnamese, Indian and more. But when I want a break from cooking and great Chinese dishes, including Asian barbeque, I always head for the delightful but unpretentious Good One BBQ in Victoria Park, WA.

The Chinese bbq pork and duck are simply the best - cooked to perfection, moist, tender, succulent and VERY moreish. Buy the pork and duck whole, or carved and chopped to your liking.

The Asian owners and staff are delightful, the table or take away service is swift and the location on Albany Highway is AAA.

Please support this local family business. If you love great Asian food for either a casual sit-down or a great takeaway, Good One BBQ will satisfy the hungriest and most discerning tummy.

Approximate cost: $15