John Grisham: Playing for Pizza

By JULIETTE ROSSANT If you aren't going to the Taste of the NFL then here is another suggestion for Super Chef's football fans. You have to wonder what John Grisham likes best: football or food. Playing for Pizza (Doubleday 2007) is about a disgraced football player who gets a job in Parma playing quarterback for a local team, the Parma Panthers. The title refers to the fact that the Italian players on the team play for free pizza and beer - and the love of the game - while the Americans get a small salary. There are lots of practices, games and plays described but it is the food that seems to get the most attention. The main character Rick, is wooed by Parma's specialties: He deftly took a small slice of brown bread, dipped it in olive oil, then layered it with a slice of Prosciutto and a shaving of parmigiano. When it was perfect, he handed it to Rick, and said, "A little sandwich." Rick took it in one large bite, then closed his eyes and savored the moment. (p. 49) Rick's girlfriend is an art and history student, but he has patience only for the dishes he tries in each town they visit. Playing for Pizza reads like a guidebook – albeit with some sweaty games thrown in. It is a serenade to the glories of Italian cuisine in the guise of a novel. It is a fun, quick read – and if you cannot quite figure out the lure of football, you may find yourself hungry for the story to go on. Previous articles: [Cookbook Reviews - complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef