You'll leave happy from the Happy Nun.
And, after a fabulous meal, punctuated with intriguing conversation at a quaint little table, surrounded by pleasant decor, who wouldn't leave happy.
Driving into Forget at night while the snow is blowing something fierce, it's a good idea to know where you are going. The community may be small, but its many gravel roads wind throughout the village. The blowing snow on this particular evening left parts of the roads covered in large drifts. If one didn't know better, it would have felt like driving into a desolate place.
But, Forget is anything but desolate.
Stepping outside the car into the cold, harsh wind, soft folk-style music is heard. It's coming from a speaker outside on the snow-covered deck. During the summer months, patrons can enjoy a meal beneath the warm sun, but on this night, there was a table next to the fireplace calling our name.
Once inside the Happy Nun, a serene young woman greeted us. Sitting at the table, heat radiating from the aforementioned fireplace, warmed our body and soul. Our wonderful server - a woman named Heidi - took our drink order and left us to take in our new surroundings.
The cafe is filled with repurposed items. During a previous visit, Shannon Shakotko, one of the owners, showed me around the Happy Nun while giving me a history of the building and many of its furnishings.
Recalling her words, I shared the history with my significant other who joined me for the night out. The bar countertop is wood from a neighbour's barn; the baseboards, which adorn the bottom two feet of the some walls, is wood found in Forget. Shannon and her husband Don sanded, stained and rejuvenated the wood to use in the Happy Nun.
Other artifacts from the community subtly tell a story of the old days of Forget. The Shakotko's take a great deal of pride in restoring and preserving these little bits of history. The old steel post office boxes sit to the left of the stage, where many musicians have sat and played since they turned the formerly deserted town hall into a cafe, performance space and second-hand bookstore.
The walls are lined with literally thousands of old books, adding to the historical feeling of the building. Pictures of happy nuns and paintings by local artists embellish the upper walls.
Shannon and Don believe in the future of rural Saskatchewan, and displaying local art work and providing musicians with a performance space is their way of ensuring its future.
A late lunch forced us to pass on ordering an appetizer, though the platter looked delightful. Instead, we enjoyed a plate of organic greens with honey mustard vinaigrette with a rosemary bun.
Shannon and Don were busy in the kitchen, giving each meal careful attention, as they worked away rather quietly. The food is served on aesthetically-pleasing stone dishes made from deep inside Gerald Morton's kiln, located at Moose Mountain Pottery on the edge of the provincial park. A common gesture to their patrons, Shannon and Don brought our meals out themselves, thanking us for coming. Their smiles were infectious.
The winter stew we each ordered gave off a compelling aroma, and the first bite was heavenly - one of those moments when you close your eyes and enjoy ever flavour to its fullest.
Clearly, the Happy Nun Cafe is for people who love food - real food. Prepared, as much as possible, with local and seasonal ingredients, the meals are meant to be savoured. And, savour we did. Every. Last. Bite.
Regrettably, we passed on dessert, as we were stuffed after the delicious winter stew. Next time we'll go just for dessert.
