PORTLAND, OR – Sal Zizzo, midfielder for the MLS’s Portland Timber is taking the jump from the soccer field to the mobile food industry. Zizzo is planning to join the much-hyped Portland food truck bandwagon with plans to launch the Italian-themed Zizzo’s FC (FC, for Food Cart and Football Club) within a week or two.
“It was an idea we had a couple months ago, and we’re putting it to work now,” Zizzo said after training Tuesday in preparation for the team’s home finale Friday against Houston. “And it looks like it’s going to do well, so I’m excited.”
Zizzo knows a little about running a food service business, his family owns restaurants in the San Diego area. Zizzo and a friend purchased a cart and his friend has spent the last few weeks in San Diego learning how to prepare the food. Since mentioning it on Twitter, news of the truck has been generating the predictable buzz.
The two are working on the menu and logo and are planning on opening at a popular downtown food truck location when the Timbers conclude their regular season schedule. Zizzo’s family owns Italian restaurants in the Little Italy district of San Diego, so he’s not going into the fledgling effort blind.
“So I thought it was a good idea to bring that food here,” Zizzo said.
Zizzo said his friend will be running the show, but you might even find Zizzo working the stove every now and then. “I’ll be around there sometimes”. Zizzo said he wants to plant the cart at the S.W. 10th and Alder block, a popular location for food carts.
One member of the Timbers is certainly looking forward to the truck’s opening.
“Not many Italians make bad food,” Timbers head coach John Spencer said.
He even said there could be some future negotiations over a free sandwich here or there.
“I’ll probably strike a deal with him that we’ll keep him here, keep him on the team as long as I get free lunches,” Spencer said jokingly.
