Pizza Wars has returned to Niverville for the third year running, and four local pizzerias are battling it out for ultimate dough-mination!

During the week of May 1–8, pizza lovers will have the opportunity to try out six very unique creations and vote online for their favourite savoury pies. Winners will be chosen in two categories: best overall and most creative.

Pizza Wars is hosted by the Niverville Chamber of Commerce as a way to celebrate and showcase the community’s vast array of dine-in and takeout options. It runs in conjunction with Niverville’s community garage sale, on May 1–2, giving these restauranteurs the advantage of feeding hungry shoppers.

The Turnball / Pho Get About It!

This year’s entries include Niakwa Pizza and Pho Real! Niverville, tempting foodies with The Turnbull and Pho Get About It!

“We have The Turnbull from Niakwa in honour of the Nighthawks winning the cup this year,” says proprietor Jeremy Ritchot.

Inspired by his next-door neighbour, Forgotten Flavours, and their savoury pastry, The Turnbull is layered with chicken, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a healthy drizzle of garlic basil pesto.

In recognition of the Vietnamese cuisine also served at his location, Ritchot cooked up Pho Get About It as an ode to the restaurant’s authentic pho. Combining all the ingredients on a tasty Niakwa crust, it features peanut sauce, Vietnamese meatballs, strips of flank steak, green onion, hoisin sauce, with a sriracha drizzle.

The Funky Chicken

Santa Lucia Pizza is also back at it this year, excited to wow diners with the Funky Chicken. Manager Dean Delorme says that the pizza was staff-inspired and a result of the many experimentations he encourages his young cooks to undertake for fun in his kitchen on a regular basis.

“It’s a thin-crust pizza with alfredo sauce, chicken, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and side bacon,” Delorme says. “The war is on!”

Volcano Dipper / Butter Chicken Pizza

Niverville’s Pizza Pizza and its sister eatery, Flavors of India, have also entered a pair of selections for this year’s contest.

The Volcano Dipper presents like an appetizer with its proportional slices that meet in the middle at a baked-in garlic dip bread bowl. Each slice is covered with pepperoni and a gooey six-cheese blend.

As for the Butter Chicken Pizza, it’s as delectable as it sounds, focusing on one of the restaurant’s best-selling Indian dishes. This pizza is smothered with butter chicken sauce, made fresh in house, and topped with spiced chicken, green peppers, kernel corn, and mozzarella.

Rosa’s Rise-n-Shine

Finally, Papa Peppie’s Pizza delivers with a savoury breakfast-style entry called Rosa’s Rise-n-Shine. With an egg base, it’s layered high with squares of bacon and ham, and topped with peppers, onion, mozzarella, cheddar, and an aromatic garlic aioli.

“It’s like a quiche and a pizza,” says Bre-ann Boulet, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “It’s egg-cellent!”

The winning pizzas will be determined by the public in a popular vote. Diners everywhere are encouraged to support as many of the participating restaurants as they can during the coming week and vote online for their favourite pizzas. To vote, scan the QR code below.

Watch our pizza taste-testing tour below, hosted by Brenda Sawatzky alongside Bre-Ann Boulet and Sara Kindzierski of the Niverville Chamber of Commerce.