Visions of Louise's Dance in My Head!

Part of me must be healing because I am dreaming of Louise's angel hair arrabiata...a spicy, smoke inducing dish that gets its heat from tiny red pepper flakes...or so I would guess. Louise's Trattoria can be found in several locations all over Hollywood and in L.A. and Beverly Hills. The one I go to is on Hillhurst in the Los Feliz district. I discovered it when I had to be at a conference up in the area and decided to go to dinner with a friend beforehand. It was actually my friend who recommended Louise's, clarifying that it is a great restaurant with great food, but everything is ala carte...no combos. Some of the salads can be ordered in the half-size portion, though.

The first time I went I ordered the angel hair arrabiata because it just sounded so good. If you don't like spicy, though, better get something else. Louise's is far from a veggie restaurant, but it is veggie and vegan friendly. I also ordered the Louise's salad, which is a ton of veggies thrown together and tossed with their own Italian dressing, which is also delicious.

The last time I went to a Louise's, of course I got the same thing. Why fix it if it isn't broken? However, the menu no longer lists "angel hair arrabiata"; it lists "penne arrabiata". I ask them to make it with angel hair because to me, angel hair holds the sauce better, or somehow I seem to get more sauce that way. I know, one would think it would be the opposite, but no. :)

Louise's serves this amazing bread with olive oil while you're waiting for your salad, and that holds you over as you drool over the smells from the kitchen. The bread is warm and delicious...and wasn't I just talking about being gluten free last night? Well...maybe someday they'll offer gluten free pasta...if they don't already.

This didn't start out to be an advertisement for Louise's Trattoria, and it isn't unless you want to go try the penne or angel hair arrabiata and a Louise's salad. What this started out to be was a polemic about the dish itself...and I'm going to find a recipe. It can't be too hard to make.

Meanwhile there's always Louise's.

Peace and Love,

Bev

P.S. The picture here only gives an idea of what the dish looks like; this isn't the presentation from Louise's. :)