Enjoy life

So I know sometimes I snark on L**** for being a cow town (which it is) and not having a Target (which it doesn't). But it also has many good things, one which is Le Nonne Ristorante. I went there for dinner on Friday night with my friend AuD who is about to go become a world traveler and then move to Miami for a schmancy internship.


It's in a lovely converted Victorian house on a pretty street close to downtown. The other nice thing about the location is that if you turn up before 5:30pm, like we did, there are a couple of other nice houses across the street that have been converted into interesting shops like this one, which carries Fair Trade goods and crafts from all over the world. There is also a bike shop and a used bookstore/coffee shop. So you have places to putter while you wait.

I think my favorite thing at Le Nonne has to be their olive-caper tapenade, which was so good that I had to refrain from picking up the bowl and just drinking the stuff. The server says it's made with black olives, capers, garlic, crushed red pepper, and olive oil. I will find a way to perfect this or die trying. The only tricky bit is the "olives in your teeth" potential. Which I will just go ahead and risk in this case.

AuD got the Chicken Toscano, which I can tell you was very good. Also, his roasted rosemary potatoes looked fabulous.

I got one of the night's specials, which was the hand-stuffed shrimp & ricotta ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce. I was a bit worried because you know how sometimes you order ravioli and then they set this plate down in front of you with like 5 little pastas and they act as though they've just served you art? But the server said this is one of her favorite things to order here so I went for it. And oh my, was it good. You hear about silky pasta but I think this was the first time I've ever eaten something that earns the name. It really was so fabulous.

We were both too full afterwards for dessert, but just hearing the menu made my eyes tear up a little bit. She said words to me like creme brulee, three-chocolate mousse, profiteroles, and tiramisu. Next time I will be sure to leave some room for that. Or I will order dessert first, as some wise people do.