Chapter Twenty Seven

Wattle Grove mightn’t be the most obvious location for a cafe, but that hasn’t deterred friends Annie Teng and Cassandra Law from having a go. Childhood friends from Malaysia, who moved to Perth to study nursing.

Teng and Law believe passing traffic and nearby housing estates spell potential for this pocket of the Kalamunda shire. When a sign announcing the imminent arrival of Aldi went up at the local shopping centre in late 2015, the pair decided to look into one of the spaces and knew it was the right location.

While the menu at Chapter Twenty Seven serves many of the usual brunch suspects – pulled-beef benedict, avocado-feta smash, a breakfast panna cotta – the kitchen also draws on the owners’ heritage by offering nasi lemak.

A combination of coconut rice served with dried fish, sambal and other condiments, nasi lemak is regularly cited as one of Malaysia’s national dishes. Teng and Law are excited about introducing customers to the dish and hope to add more Malaysian dishes, such as congee, mee goreng and nasi goreng.

The personal flourishes aren’t limited to the menu. The cafe’s minimal, Scandinavian-influenced interior is an extension of the friends’ light and airy home kitchen. The name of the cafe? A reference to Teng and Law’s decision at age 27 to start a new chapter in their lives.

The coffee is from local roaster Darkstar. You'll also find Top Dup Donuts and bagels from The Holy Bagel Company in the cabinets.