La Dolce Vita -- 4.7

Here’s the thing about most people in Utah County, we like sameness. We are chronic repeaters. Hence,

• hand-me-down clothes
• borrowing Prom dresses
• the classic Temple Square date picture
• the fact that you, your parents, your grandparents, your children, your children’s children, and so on and so on have all gone to the same high school--or one very close to the one you went to
• “bless this food to bring nourishment and strength into our bodies”
• make a mental list of your family traditions that you’ve done since you were in the womb

I’m not saying it’s always bad to repeat things! And I’m not saying that we always do it. Having a routine is something that, as humans, we crave and need. So don’t feel bad drinking a Diet Coke every single morning, and don’t think for a second that I’m dissing on your annual Christmas Nativity Reenactment. However, sometimes keeping things the same all the time blinds us from the great, different things that are out there. We essentially become ignorant to the possibilities that we could have. 

How does this relate to food you ask? 

Because I just went to the cutest, most authentic, little Italian place and I’d never heard of it before this past year. THEY HAVE BEEN IN PROVO FOR THIRTY YEARS. How is it that in 30 years, no one that I know has gone to La Dolce Vita and told me that they’re awesome? Because, we get caught up in our little cycle of sameness and we like it there. It’s quite comfy. Growing up, my family went to Joe Banditos (best chips and salsa in the world) once a week. And I can say that to you honestly with a strait face. 

For the sake of our children, let's break free of the sameness in our food choices. I’m guilty of this too though! It takes work to do something new. You have to pay attention, see new people, try new things. That’s why I hate the singles ward. And Heaven forbid you stop going to your favorite place! Heck no, I’m not trying to be a favorite restaurant home wrecker here.  But let’s all take a pledge to skip (insert your family’s favorite restaurant here) one night and try something new. 

Now for those of you who are new at this “new” thing, let’s start with somewhere solid. Dun dun dun! La Dolce Vita. 

This was probably the most authentic Italian food I’ve ever had, and the decor of the place is just as Italian as the food.  Granted I grew up in Utah and know nothing about real Italian culture. 

It was not busy when at all when my sister and I went on a Saturday around noon, so Miguel (our waiter) sat us right down, brought us some bread, and we ordered. Really fast and friendly, but even if the place was full to capacity I think that we would have had the same kind of friendly service. It’s that kind of place. Plus, the music was the kind that makes you want to fall in love so I was all kinds of warm and fuzzy.

The bread was so good. Sooooo good. Homemade, for sure. And it was grilled until it had that butter crunch to it. Uahhhhh. The bread--along with all the food I ate here--was not the best bread I’ve ever had in my life. But it gave me the same satisfaction as the food that my grandma makes me. It’s good because it’s simple and done right. The same way it’s been made for 100 years.

We followed the bread with the kind of minestrone soup that you want buckets of when you are sick, or when you’re stuck inside on a cold winter day.

We also took the liberty of ordering some peach Italian sodas. Cream, sparkling water, and syrup.

 I was told by my boss (the person who directed me to this establishment) that I needed to order Ana’s Spinach Ravioli. I trusted her judgement enough that both Alayna and I ordered it. And I am so glad that I did. Every once in a while I catch myself just thinking about that ravioli. You can tell it’s homemade pasta, it has a different bite to it that’s unique. It was filled with cheese, artichokes, and spinach and had sundered tomatoes. Uh, yum. And it came with a rich alfredo. It had all the flavors of a thick, buttery alfredo, but it was actually pretty thin which I liked. It was like the comfort pasta of all comfort pastas. At the end I was looking for something to cut into the flavor a little bit, just because it was so rich. That was kind of the purpose of the sundries tomatoes I think. But, it’d be good if there was a little sundries tomato, just a hint, in the sauce as well. Just to mix up the alfredo flavor a bit. Although, it must have not bothered me too bad because my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.

La Dolce Vita is definitely worth the visit. I really did love this place. Anything authentic I’m pretty into, people included.

And shout-out to the nice lady and her two little BYU fans at the table across from us! Thanks for not judging me for taking pictures of my food with my huge honking camera. I would have probably judged me lol.

Arrivederci,

Kayla