Last week, Italian Chef Carlo Zarri prepared a five course lunch for Portland Timbers midfielder Sal Zizzo, Stand Together auction winner Ian Montone, and a group of Ian’s friends and family at Piazza Italia in downtown Portland. Zarri brought fresh truffles and hazelnuts from the Piedmont region of Italy and prepared an incredible lunch for the group.
“An amazing lunch with an amazing player,” said Ken Montone, a Timbers season ticket holder and long time supporter of the team.
Piazza Italia closed their restaurant for the occasion and the group spent hours eating and laughing together. “Chef Carlo cooked us a fantastic meal," said Zizzo "Ian and his friends and family were a lot of fun to have lunch with!”
Piazza Italia generously donated the Italian experience to the Stand Together Awards Banquet. Every year Chef Carlo comes to Piazza Italia to cook elegant dinners over a winter weekend. In addition to owning and running the San Carlo Hotel Ristorante in Cortemilia, Italy with his wife, Chef Carlo has catered at the Olympics and is currently competing in the Italian version of the Iron Chef.
“It has been a great honor to prepare food for Sal and his friends," said Zarri. "We are soccer fans in Italy and hope to be here one day for a Timbers match.”
