July 2015


smart biz Good things growing in Manitoba By Brenlee Coates F


or Terik Cabildo, what inspires him is simple fare. “(Italian) food is more about simplicity, and I ad-


mire that.


“Tat’s what excites me in food personally.” While there’s been a trend toward specialized restau-


rants in Winnipeg with only a handful of items on the menu, there was no guarantee that his vision for Neopolitan-style pizza with sparser toppings and none of the build-your-own options was going to make it. “You can never know for sure what’s going to happen,” admits Terik. What did happen was well beyond expectation: the tiny


space and crew that is Vera Pizzeria e Bevande is absolutely killing its game. Line-ups are regularly spiralled out the door, replete with patrons prepared to wait out the previ- ous diners. Without a waitlist, there’s an honour system in place,


which demands patient tummies and a commitment to see- ing it through. But the limited capacity was intentional, too. “I like having a small restaurant because you have so


much control and freedom,” says Terik. “Tat’s how my parents are – they’re super old-school – and that’s how I am… I like it that way.” Terik’s parents ran a restaurant in Neepawa for 30-plus


years, and more recently took on a venture in Morden. Terik always pitched in with the family business, virtually growing up in the kitchen. After realizing pursuing a degree in education wasn’t


for him, he opted to hone his natural culinary skills in Vancouver. Moving to Victoria after graduating, he came across a Neopolitan pizza restaurant that caught his eye – and he got the job. “(It) attracted me for some reason,” says Terik. “The


skillset was niche, unique. “I made sure that when I was going to leave that I knew


enough to hopefully do it myself.” Back in Winnipeg, Terik felt ready to introduce proper Naples pie. “It seemed like a really Winnipeg thing,” says Keep it simple page 9


Sean Davids slicing up cured meat. A favourite, the Calabrese Piccante pizza, packs a little heat. Terik Cabildo, owner of Vera Pizzeria.


smartbizwpg.com


Neopolitan-slappin’ the dough Vera Pizzeria born from a lifetime in restaurants and reverence for la dolce vita


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West Broadway's evolution


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Adrenaline Adventures


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Wookey Films' power duo


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