Restaurant down but not out
Terra Mia owners Alberto Calabrese and Lucia Macedo work by the motto: #nocompromise.
That’s made it very difficult to continue to operate their traditional Italian restaurant in the small tourist town of Arrowtown through the Covid-19 pandemic, Lucia said.
‘‘Our standards are very high and that’s what hurts the most – to have the customers and not be able to give them the high standards of service that we’re used to,’’ she said.
The restaurant that would previously turn over tables up to three times a night, serving 150 people, has lost most of its 15 staff, who have mainly returned to Italy.
‘‘It’s only me and Lucia cooking and serving now, and we’ve got two staff,’’ Alberto said. ‘‘Nobody has a title any more. We all do everything from cleaning the toilets, to serving the people, to cooking to washing the dishes at the end of the night. So we’re very grateful for our staff.’’
They have been creative in adapting to the changes – reducing working days, hours and offerings – and have kept their local customers.
‘‘The people are very down to earth to Arrowtown,’’ Lucia said.
‘‘It doesn’t matter how wealthy they are – because there’s a lot of money in Arrowtown – they are good hearted, simple people.’’
With local support and long hours the business has continued to be a success, but they couple miss their daughters (one is in Italy and one is in Wellington), and they have unfinished business in Italy where Alberto’s parents died during the pandemic.
The couple have sold the lease on the restaurant to Italian ‘‘concept’’ store Seletti, but instead of leaving town, they will move into their neighbouring takeaway coffee store.
The shop will continue selling coffee, Italian treats and bakery products as well as food imported from Italy, but the couple will only be present in the peak summer and winter seasons when they will sell their much loved pizza and pasta products.
They will also do private functions and Alberto will continue his online business importing Italian wine. While away in Italy they will finalise plans for winery tours they had planned to start pre-Covid-19.
Once the restaurant doors close on April 24, they will take an overdue campervan trip of New Zealand after seven years living here and visit family in Italy and Lucia’s home of Brazil.
‘‘Our priority is to spend time with our family.’’