Grey. That word defines a drizzly summer day; grey weather and a grey mood. The perfect moment for a taste of my childhood holidays in France and a guaranteed way to slap a smile on a face. It’s time to head to CocoRico.
Nestled just off King Street in St Helier, this bastion of all things francais is the creation of Sebastien Perrais who has brought a taste of his homeland to the isle. The menu reflects the classics of relaxed cafe eats; galettes, soup, sandwiches and quiches for the savoury tooth and crepes, patisserie and macaron for the sweet. Everything is available to eat in or takeaway, so you can even turn your desk into a little piece of France for a while, but I recommend a seat at the front of the cafe at the ‘bar’. The perfect spot for a bit of people watching.
But really we’re here for the food; the star of the show is the quiche Lorraine. Perfect nutty brown pastry that is as thin as paper with a luscious creamy filling that has a perfect balance of salty bacon. I may not eat quiche anywhere else again.
The three varieties of croque were also calling me and the goats cheese and caramelised onion croque did not disappoint. Malty seeded bread that had a nice amount of chew was paired with a thin sweep of sweet onions, thinly sliced courgette and a mild but piquant chèvre. Hands down delicious.
One of the crowning glories of CocoRico’s menu however is the daily offerings of salad; choose a few to accompany the main dishes or tuck in to a plate of salads alone, you won’t be disappointed. The day’s tasty mixtures of chickpeas and semi-dried tomatoes, dressed French beans and, finally, pesto drenched tomatoes brought a further taste of sunshine to the table.
The atmosphere is welcoming and calm and, while I’ve yet to partake, the choice of afternoon sweet treats look wildly tempting, so if it’s not a breakfast or lunchtime bite maybe it’s time for an apres midi francaise.
Grab a menu and dive in….
the island plate - a Jersey CI food blog 