A love of food and people drives foodie couple to create liquor emporium and deli in Lynwood.

What started as a passing meeting on a cooking show turned into a beautiful romance between two food lovers and today resulted in the opening of Vee & Forti in Lynwood Bridge. Vee & Forti is a wine bar, liquor emporium and deli that gets its unique name from the husband-and-wife team of Veralda and Fortunato Mazzone.

Fortunato, known by food lovers as Forti, is the award-winning chef, wine master and restauranteur behind some of Pretoria’s favourite fine dining restaurants. Indeed, his newest creation – Forti Too – was recently voted the capital’s favourite and best new restaurant.

Veralda, or Vee as she is known by many in the marketing and hospitality industry, will officially take the reins of Vee & Forti. She is a well-known foodie, marketer and public relations specialist.

“Vee & Forti represents much of what we are as people and as a couple,” says Vee. “We love feeding people, as it is a true expression of our love. But we hate pretence, which is often manifested in price. So, Vee & Forti is about offering the best delicatessens, wine and liquor in a tasteful, but always welcoming atmosphere.”

Fine foods, fair price

With their love of people and food, and their distaste for everything pretentious, Vee & Forti promises to offer the best wine, bubbly, beer, liquor, Italian meats, cheeses and olives and all the related accoutrements in an easily accessible atmosphere. “Offering great French champagne, whisky and wine does not mean that we will ignore some of our customers’ local favourites. So, whether you want something to celebrate a special occasion or just a six-pack of your usual beers, we will have it in stock,” says Vee.

Much of the delicatessen on offer is imported from Forti’s casa di famiglia, Italy, but he and Vee have also used their extensive network of suppliers to Forti’s restaurant network to find local, organically grown and artisanally made foods.

This applies to both sides of the food spectrum, as the couple have also sourced the best in vegan food and specialities for Vee & Forti.
Fans of Forti’s restaurants will recognise his touch in the very wide selection of wines on offer. Much of this is sourced directly from wine farms, with which he has a personal relationship. His chef’s palette is also on display in the fresh foods available for sale and for sit-down dining.

“We have crafted a lovely deli menu for Vee & Forti. I was inspired by the traditional delis where a sandwich is made special, not by its artsy presentation, but by being made with caring hands and fresh ingredients. Also, it must be substantial. We are not here to tease the tongue, but to fill you with hearty food,” says Forti.
Says Veralda: “It was Italian food, and especially pasta, that first gave me my love for food, and it was ironically as a waitron in an Italian restaurant that I got my professional start in life. It feels like we are coming full circle, where we can share this love for good food and all things Italian with the people of Pretoria.”

All-women team

While Forti will join Vee in the sourcing of ingredients, wines and special customer requests, the day-to-day running of the deli and wine and liquor emporium will be done by Vee with her all-women team.

“Each of our team members was selected for her experience and personality. Angela (Cerati), Joni (Weber) and Kalzey (Rorke) have all been in the food and wine industry for ages, and we are very privileged that they have agreed to join me at Vee & Forti,” says Vee.

The four women will not only oversee the daily running of Vee & Forti, but will be crafting the food for visitors, select fresh olives, meats and cheeses for the charcuterie table, wine and olive tasting tables and host guests for small get-togethers. “Our liquor licence allows for both sit-down and off-site consumption, and with our architect and designer, we have created an inside-outside flowing space that can host up to 40 people for intimate functions,” says Vee.

“Our close proximity to Forti Too, where Forti spends much of his time in the kitchen, also allows us to cater to special requests at the drop of a hat.”

Flexible and friendly

“In all my restaurants and in everything Vee and I do, we want our love for food and people to shine through.”Ditto at Vee & Forti. Whether you want to pop in for a meaty sandwich and beer on a Saturday afternoon, a healthy vegan salad and a good glass of Rosé after work or make friends with Vee and the ladies to always keep your brand of drinks on hand for when you swing by, we want you to see us as a part of your family,” says Forti.

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