“Clean and beautiful” is how Cocha co-owner Saskia Spanhoff describes the Nordic salmon that anchors her restaurant’s version of a classic Niçoise salad. In time for spring, the dish assembles Norwegian salmon house-cured in salt, sugar, dill and the Scandinavian spirit Aquavit. Grilled to medium just before serving, it joins haricots verts, fingerling potatoes, soft-boiled egg, radishes, heirloom tomatoes, fried capers, Niçoise olives and fresh organic greens from Baton Rouge’s Fullness Farm. A fresh and light dressing with notes of dill, Dijon mustard and shallots finishes things off.

Cocha’s wine list features lots of pairing options, from sparkling wines to sauvignon blanc to even light reds like a pinot noir. Spanhoff, also a sommelier, recommends the 2019 Qu’est-Ce Que C’est Aligoté, which she calls “a lovely white wine grown in the same region in France as the fine white Burgundies and chardonnay.”

Cocha
445 N. 6th St.
(225) 615-8826
cochabr.com

Hours:
Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.