Cocum, which opened just three weeks ago in Sutton, promises diners a taste of authentic Keralan cuisine.
The restaurant is the fourth in the Cocum chain with others in Raynes Park, Hampton Court and Cambridge. The Raynes Park restaurant has enjoyed particular success since opening nine years ago as its chef Shajahan Parambath has been named curry chef of the year four times in Merton council’s curry restaurant awards.
So, when owner Ismail Valapp launched the latest Cocum restaurant in Sutton, he brought Shajahan in to devise the menu.
All the chefs who work at the Cocum restaurants are from Kerala, a region in south west India famed for its fantastic scenery and long coastline. The state first attracted travellers centuries ago who came in search of its exotic spices. Nowadays it is a popular tourist destination known for its exotic, mouthwatering food, wonderful climate and beautiful landscape.
Cocum is the Keralan word for tamarind which is used in the preparation of seafood and coconut-based curries which feature on the restaurant menu.
I went along to see for myself what the restaurant has to offer, and have to say I was impressed, as this is Indian food which is just that bit different. In fact all the sauces used in the curries on the menu are specially created so that they each offer something unique.
My colleague and I chose the Cocum mixed platter as a starter (£12.95) which is ideal for two to share, and offers a good introduction to some of the different starters on the menu. There was vegetable samosa, potato bonda, chilli chicken and lamb fry. These came with a really unusual red onion sauce (which looked like a raspberry mousse but was the perfect mildly spiced sauce to accompany the lamb and chicken) and a coconut chutney.
The portions here were very generous which means they would appeal to those with a hearty appetite.
After a decent interval, I ordered a main course of chicken uluva kootu (£5.95) – pieces of chicken breast cooked with fenugreek leaves, cardamon, garlic, ginger, green chilli and served with coriander and curry leaves. My colleague plumped for the lamb malabar (£6.50), cubes of lamb marinated with aromatic spices, onion, tomato, fresh coconut milk and turmeric.
These were dishes where it was possible to taste the individual spices – there was no danger of having your mouth burnt off or eyes left watering!
The rice too deserves a special mention. Try the coconut rice – basmati with grated coconut and curry leaves with a lemon juice – wonderful!
With such great food at reasonable prices, I’m sure this latest addition to the Cocum family will be a real winner – give it a try and see for yourself!
Cocum 260 High Street Sutton SM1 1PG Tel: 020 8642 1833 www.cocumrestaurant.co.uk
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