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The off-the-clock dabblings of pro athletes can get ugly:
Michael Jordan's fiendish gambling, Michael Vick's gruesome dog-killing,
Tiger Woods' compulsive boning of soft-chinned floozies. Bless his
heart, Portland Timbers midfielder Sal Zizzo just wants to sell
reasonably priced meatball subs. That simple dream came to fruition last
month with the opening of Zizzo's FC, a ultramarine Italian wagon
parked downtown that peddles three sandwiches along with fried calamari,
a meaty baked pasta and ruggedly crisp chocolate cannoli. Demand is
high: The wait for a Tuesday lunch stretched 30 minutes despite the
cook's obvious efficiency. Lightly toasted hoagie rolls weren't sturdy
enough for the loads asked of them—sliced meatballs bathed in a zesty
sauce, and the caprese's thick slices of tomato and gummy mozzarella.
The caprese's roll, softened by a squirt of balsamic vinegar, dissolved
back into batter. (Turning the vinegar into a syrupy reduction and
toasting the bun until crusty would help.) Kudos to Zizzo for drawing
people in the colder months. The next cart was empty and renting for the
princely sum of $75 a day, so someone like Rooney or Ronaldo could
feasibly open Chav's Chip Shoppe or a Bacalhau à Braz cart without
risking bankruptcy. The Timbers Army will find a perfect pass toward an
empty net. Less partisan diners might wish to play the field.
- Order this: Salsiccia sandwich ($6).
- Iâll pass: Caprese sandwich ($6).
EAT: Cart pod at Southwest 9th Avenue and Alder Street. zizzosfc.com. 11 am-4 pm Monday-Saturday.
WWeek 2015