Yesterday we accompanied my sister and BIL on a tour of wooden boats in downtown Olympia, and once our stomach alarms went off we discussed where to eat dinner. My sister had a list of places to choose from, and when an Italian restaurant was mention&mdash&a real Italian restaurant—came up, I said I was interested. I know Pooky isn't fond of pasta, but real Italian food is much more than pasta, and the way that my BIL talked of this place, it sounded like a place to try. The owner, he said, was an import from Italy. Yes!

So we go there. It's a small place, nicely decorated, and upon entering we are greeted by a middle-aged man, obviously Italian by birth and upbrining, and he greets us with such friendliness, as if he knows us personally (I like that kind of treatment) and seats us at a table where we're tucked a bit out of the way.

Each table has a bottle of oil filled with garlic and other fresh particles of something. It is for the bread, I am told.

He hands us menus to review. I see an appetizer of shrimp scampi wrapped in prosciutto ham. I imagine the salty, garlicy goodness, but realize then realize an appetizer of $10 was a lot and the entrees were $15.95 and above. I scan the meat dishes and let my mind imagine what the chicken parmesan would taste like when the owner returns to tell us about the day's specials.

Between the noise of the restaurant and his slurred English I am not really certain what he is telling us. I hear a few words like "veal" and think not, but then at the very end he says "cheese ravioli" and I am there! So was my sister. We each got that, and Pooky the veal, and my BIL went with a pork in some kind of reduction sauce.

I like cheese ravioli and this was in a cream sauce with a light lemony essence with a suggestion of crab meat floating in the white, creamy goodness. I think I started eating and didn't stop until I was done, and then I was wanting seconds, perhaps thirds!

We were all inhaling our food. But, the funny part of it all is, about 10 minutes into our being at the restaurant, it is revealed that this is the first time my sister and BIL have eaten at the restaurant! I had been under the impression they had eaten there before.

We ended the meal to die for with shared slices of tiramisu. Drool. Marscapone cheese and espresso soaked lady fingers....

And Pooky had some pasta on his entree plate and guess what? He ate it! Yes, the pasta they served with a basic red sauce was divine! We all fought over the extra plate of pasta the owner brought to us.

Today I looked to find if the restaurant had a website and I couldn't find it listed. I'm not even sure of the name. For all I know the food was simply a very nice dream we shared, one in which I hope to repeat again some day.