La Musette to close on Dec. 15

The restaurants of Niwot have always played a vital role in the town's culture. From small businesses to the people who own them, every restaurant has its own unique personality that makes it stand out from the rest.

La Musette, a farm-to-table food truck located next to The Wheel House, is one of Niwot's restaurant staples. Popular among locals, bikers, and tourists, the restaurant attracts people of all kinds. One common denominator among everyone who eats there is that they always want to come back. Not only is it the incredible food, it is also the appeal of the seasonal menu, convenient location, and homey feel.

Skyla Olds, the owner of La Musette, has been a popular community member for several years in Niwot. Both her food and her presence are cherished by many.

Olds said, "It's difficult to adequately express how the warmth of the Niwot community has brought me light and contentedness, and hopefully that has been mutual with my food bringing the same into the lives of those who came to La Musette."

Olds has spent time building connections with people in Niwot through her love of food, and the enjoyment she has found in sharing this love with other people. "I've grown and healed tremendously with the help of the Niwot community,' she said. 'When I came to Niwot, I was searching for a new life and new path following a difficult several years and the connection and community forged through feeding Niwot at La Musette brought me through to a place where I am happy and solid," said Olds.

Olds announced that La Musette will be closing on Dec. 15 due to her two knee replacement surgeries scheduled in January of 2025, Nevertheless, Olds will remain a familiar face in Niwot. She is extremely positive about her future in Niwot. "If I continue cooking, I plan to be rooted in Niwot for that but I am open to whatever the universe sends my way. I would like to travel, cook, and write," she said.

Not only has Olds found meaning in feeding people but she has also found meaning in the food she makes. Each menu item has a deep-rooted meaning for her and correlates to something more than "just food." Olds said, "My bolognese lasagne reminds me of my junior year when I lived in Florence. My braised duck legs bring back bacchanalian dinner parties of days living in Berkeley. Now lobster rolls evoke summer Rock & Rails Thursday nights in Niwot."

The regular visitors to La Musette have nothing but kind things to say about her and her food. With a rotating menu that changes weekly, featuring cuisines from Asia, North Africa, America, and the Mediterranean, there is always something new to try. Some of the local favorite dishes were said to be lobster rolls, various ramen dishes, unique burger and hot dog variants, and all pasta dishes.

"I love how community and event-oriented Niwot is and being involved in the town's going-ons has been special," she said,"like making a local honey-themed menu for the Honey Bee Festival and having customers who know to expect my grandmother's coriander spiced honey bread on that day, which they remember from the previous year."

Olds' goal with La Musette was to share her culinary passion with the community, and she succeeded on every level. "I love to travel and try new things and I hope that part of what I leave with Niwot is that curiosity and excitement of a new culinary experience. Customers often ask what a dish or ingredient is that is unfamiliar and will try it just because I love it. I hope that seeking adventure and connection through food is something people will remember from La Musette."

A party to celebrate La Musette's more than three years in Niwot will be held Dec. 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the food truck next to The Wheel House. Stop by to support Olds' success with La Musette as well as her future endeavors.