My visit to Mozza wednesday really tested my patience with vegetarianism, especially so close to the end of my month-long commitment. So I’m not sure why I decided it was a good idea to visit a different, equally delicious Italian eatery on Thursday.

Before meeting some homies at Osteria La Buca, I had a drink at the bar with my Austrian buddy Manuel. This dude taught me the meaning of jumping out of “a perfectly good airplane” and goes skydiving about once a week.

The best thing about him is that he has an incomparable sense of justice. To that end, he often fights the system and he almost always wins. If you are a cop, for example, who decides to give Manuel a moving violation, expect to lose in court when he decides to sue you. True story. And there’s more where that came from.

FYI there is a new chef and a new menu at La Buca, but don’t despair, the pasta is still homemade and now that Mama is not there it’s easier to make special requests.

We shared some tomato and mozzarella before getting to the good shit.

The hardest part about going vegan has had nothing to do with dairy for me–I’ve gone without it for about four years now. Generally it’s the meat. But when I saw this lasagna I just about dropped everything and denied any former evidence of food allergies.

I think two of my friends had the pappardelle fume.

I had fusilli with a basil and tomato sauce and asked for no ricotta. They very kindly accommodated me.

They even sent out a complimentary dessert which I didn’t photograph in protest since I couldn’t eat it. It was tiramisu. You get the picture.

La Buca, I loved you when you were the size of a port-a-potty and I love you now that you have leg room. I loved you when mean Mama was in the kitchen and I still love you now that she’s not. Especially since I am so fucking terrified of her.