Review: La Coco C Food Purveyors
With its bright white walls and welcoming atmosphere, La Coco C speaks the language of spring. Indeed, spring came early this year and when freshness is at the core of the business, it’s spring all year round.
From the young age of 14, Jeanine Claassen dreamed of owning a shop in the quaint suburban centre known for its flower and wine shop within the Waterkloof Mini Market, as well as the thrift shop, Dawn’s Antiques. As a student, Jeanine drove along Long Street on purpose, hopeful about her one-day Waterkloof store.
That one day arrived in March this year, when she opened her third La Coco C Food Purveyors store with its white painted brick walls, brown leather seats and indoor plants. La Coco C’s flagship store, based at the In Shere Shopping Centre in Pretoria East has been well established, and the second store opened its doors in Stellenbosch in 2020.
Under trendy lights hanging from a high ceiling, we curiously scrolled through La Coco C Waterkloof’s menu, filled with various out of the ordinary, healthy but homely options. We opted for the Chicken and Pineapple Salad – a favourite among patrons, which Jeanine suggested. And, as we waited for our order, we sat back and observed.
Two friends came in five minutes apart, each with a bunch of Mini Market flowers for the other. They say great minds think alike. A mother and her daughter bonded over a light lunch, chatting about next year’s studies and who’s going to which university. At the same time, solo diners escaping the office indulged in the freshness of beautifully served dishes, content in the moment. We even spotted a dad and his daughter, no older than five, popping in to choose an after-school treat – a homemade cookie from the cake cabinet in front. Then, a young couple with a baby no older than three months arrived and, as the dad clearly had everything under control, the mom grabbed the opportunity to pop into the flower shop too.
Our salad arrived, loud with colour and proud in a lovely bowl. Chunks of pineapple and a generous helping of flavourful chicken strips, all on a bed of mixed lettuce, nuts, feta cheese, avo and various other secret ingredients filled the plate. It was the perfect lunch and a welcome introduction to a new season.
If you wanted some insider tips on Pretoria’s secret spots where locals hang out, this is undoubtedly one of them.
