Despite the many sources of culinary inspiration, most of the dishes at La Cocina are not ones with familiar names like osso buco or bouillabase. The aforementioned Plum Tomato etc., etc., etc. These little fried turnovers of seasoned ground pork come with the spicy sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds. The combination of ginger and soy with chipotle chilies is an unexpectedly winning one. La Cocina's own freshly baked herb foccacia brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan is a welcome addition to the bread basket.
Entrees come with a house salad, or one can pay a little more and get a salad with hearts of palm.
This is no doubt a fine option but not a necessary one, since the house salad is quite good. It's appreciably small, with fresh mixed greens, golden raisins, diced red pepper and strips of fried tortilla for extra crunch. I recommend the house vinaigrette flavored with lime and cumin. Grilled medallions of marinated pork came with a tomatillo and corn sauce, a mound of creamy mashed potatoes and a medley of sauteed fennel, onions, red peppers and mushrooms. The meat was tender, juicy and scented with rosemary, and the accompanying sauce added complexity and flavor.