Simply shift off the first argument from @_ before proceeding with messing with it:

sub doThat {
    my $self = shift;
    my %ARGS = (chew => 'meat', @_);
    return "I like to chew $ARGS{chew}!\n";
}
[download]

ah... delightfully simple.

You'd be suprised at the weird and wonderful convulsions of code my brain was cooking up without the aid of that tasty tidbit.

Much thankyou's and may you monkdom be more comfy than an old pair of jeans.