Zach Washburn, centre with Cody Crowley left and Joe Nata have earned a loyal following for their pizzas in the few weeks the trailer has been open in Cavan.
It’s only been a few weeks since Zach Washburn opened his pizza trailer in the parking lot of the cannabis shop at the four corners of Cavan, but he says that the community response has been astounding, and not just from customers.
Last week Moody’s Bar & Grill showed some local love when they gave Zach a small fridge they no longer required which now keeps Zach’s pizza dough cool which has been very helpful in this heat.
The community was first got a taste of Zach’s pizzas at last year’s Christmas in the Village event, where he produced wood-fired pies baked in his portable pizza cart. He still has a few catering bookings lined up requiring him to work at other locations but now that he has developed a local following ,Zach plans to focus on the Cavan location.
Zach began making pizzas as a form of therapy while considering a career change. After spending eight years in corrections facilities, his enthusiasm for this work was eroded by the stress and pressure of that environment. He began making pizzas as a hobby: making dough was relaxing and the resulting product was amazing. Through a low-tech, enterprising system he refers to as “porch pizza”, he set up a system where customers would put their orders in a ten minute time slot set up on his porch at his Peterborough home, and the finished product would be slipped into the slot for pick up by the customer.
Zach built his first mobile pizza cart with his father and began operating pop-up shops, setting up in vendor markets and catering at weddings. Last October, he was selected to participate in the fall intake of Peterborough Community Futures Starter Company Plus program. The six week training program provides business advice and tools to help local businesses develop clear marketing brands, business plans and a strong understanding of financials to help entrepreneurs build strong foundations upon which to build and grow their businesses.
Since opening his permanent location in Cavan on July 27th, staff at the pizza trailer serves on average 72 pizzas each day they are open. The trailer is equipped with two electric ovens which generate a cooking temperature of 650 degrees, allowing pizzas to cook within ten minutes. The ingredients are fresh and so is the menu, which changes each week. There are usually five or six selections, including the classic Margherita. Pizzas are all 12 inches and cost between $16 and $22 each, including tax.
Ingredients are always fresh and simple. There are no ”all-dressed”, chain-style pizzas at this outlet, although Zach does admit that he has been know to indulge in a 2-for-1 slice after a long day at work. Call it market research.
Zach’s pizzas are made with a fermented dough consisting of water, flour, salt, yeast and a pinch of sugar or honey to activate the yeast. He lets it ferment for up to 72 hours, but these days the process is usually limited to 48 hours. The result is similar to a sourdough product. He uses mozzarella cheese which he prefers to purchase in Toronto. It is all hand-grated as he is nota fan of the cellulose found in pre-grated products that pre-vents it from clumping. The flavour combinations focus on seasonal items that this week include peaches, but there are always some traditional styles including pizza staples like pepperoni.
The trailer is open most days from 11 am until they are sold out, which can happen as early as 5pm. They do not accept telephone orders because the customers who show up are their priority. To be sure they are open and still have inventory to make you a pie, call them at 705-991-PIES (7437).
Zach dreams of opening a pizza shop in Millbrook and he has already identified his ideal location, but for now he is excited to build his business in Cavan. Get there early to avoid disappointment!