Iron Cast Goodness in Little India

I love iron cast pots because they look good, come in various delicious colours and retain flavours like nothing else in this world. I know this because after much contemplation, I got myself a 24-inch Le Crueset a few months ago, and I have been using it almost every weekend ever since.

It. is. divine.

And everyone who likes cooking should have one!!!

Thus, I was delighted to hear about the opening of Cocotte at the new Wanderlust boutique hotel (sister to New Majestic and 1929) on Dickson Road, off Jalan Besar in the Little India heritage area. Best way to get onto Dickson Road is via Jalan Besar, and the white heritage building is hard to miss.

The restaurant came across honest and sincere - no elaborate dinner ware or table decorations, but some rather adorable interior design and ornaments. Aside from the usual ala carte menu, there was a well priced lunch menu and specials for the day.

To respect the privacy of the other diners in the restaurant, i did not take a better picture to show the interior, but it was small and intimate, with perhaps about 60-80 seats tops. But i did however took a picture of this very funky ceiling lamp, which reminded me of a spider!

Then there is the quintessential open kitchen, which does not quite work for Chinese restaurants I was told due to the amount of stir frying that is done. The open kitchen wasn't that visible unless you were sitting in one end of the restaurant, and the small window didn't exactly encourage you to stare. But the line of coloured iron cast pots on the shelf did enthrall me endlessly.

And now, yes, i know, the question on your mind is, "how is the food?" and I must say it was quite a delight! I did not hesitate to try the Croque Monsieur (in remembrance of the wonderful days in the land of Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite), but i think it was a tad bit too thick and dry for me.

However, my companions had some amazing fish and steak et frites, and the desserts were pretty awesome. The next time i visit, i'm keen to try some iron cast pot dishes - which i reckon ought to be what they are really good at.

It's such a delight to find a restaurant with character, and located in a culturally rich area!

I need to bring along my better camera to take better food pictures!