Americans love their grills. And they love their pizza. Just in time for summer, The Taunton Press is pleased to publish PIZZA ON THE GRILL: 100 Feisty Fire-Roasted Recipes for Pizza and More (The Taunton Press, May 2008, $16.00) which combines both of these loves into a sizzling homage to everyone’s truly favorite pie. Once you try the recipes, you too will owe your deepest-dish thanks to Elizabeth Karmel and Bob Blumer, who share a passion for pizza, among their other culinary pursuits.

Elizabeth Karmel has been grill-side for more than fifteen years and is the author of Taming the Flame as well as the creator of www.GirlsattheGrill.com and Grill Friends™; a line of kitchen and grilling tools. Bob Blumer is the creator and host of the award-winning Food Network shows “Surreal Gourmet” and “Glutton for Punishment.”

Friends for over ten years, these are two self-proclaimed pizza fanatics who, in their own words, “worship the heavenly crust as frequently as possible.” And, what a crust it is. Readers will rejoice when they first discover that Elizabeth and Bob share their approach to the perfect crust, which is the secret behind every great pizza. It’s called their 1-2-3 Technique and the results are guaranteed. After testing recipes for months Elizabeth and Bob developed this proven method, which uses a combination of direct and indirect heat, that delivers delightfully crisp, golden brown and crunchy crusts every time.

With the perfect crust in hand, Elizabeth and Bob turn their imaginations and culinary expertise to the unique flavor combinations that are the hallmark of their grilled pizzas. With several layers of flavor included in each of the 51 pizza recipes, PIZZA ON THE GRILL offers inventive combinations that you might expect to find in only a gourmet restaurant.

The good news is that you need only travel to a backyard grill to create your own unforgettable pizzas. The themed chapters offer something for every palate:

• The Classics
• Marvelous & Meatless
• Seaworthy Pizzas
• Porkilicous Pizzas
• Tastes Like Chicken
• Big & Beefy Pizzas
• Morning Glories and Sweet Thangs

Each recipe requires only the “Fab 5 Pizza Components”: the dough, sauce, toppings cheese and finishing touch. With fresh ingredients in hand you will be able to create the classics and fire up All-American Pepperoni Pizza and Very Cheesy Pizza or indulge your steakhouse cravings with Black ‘n Blue Steak Pizza. The adventuresome can explore new culinary shores with Smokin’ Salmon Pizza and Clams Casino Pizza and traditionalists can have a field day at the farmers market for a mouth-watering Fire-Roasted Veggie Pizza and Blistered Corn, Asparagus, and Pesto Pizza.

In addition to the pizza recipes there are helpful hints to address common problems such as burned pizzas, overly-thick crusts and the always frustrating “cheese won’t melt and/or toppings are cold” scenario. Readers will also triumph with the over 15 “Professional Secrets” that Elizabeth and Bob share.

With disasters-averted, tips in hand and the main course set, Elizabeth and Bob plunge ahead with over 50 recipes for Nibbles & Noshes that include salads, dips and dressings. Olives (Fennel Seed & Orange Zest-Cured Picholine Olives and Garlic Red-Chile Cured Black Olives) have never sounded so good. And, the dips (Fire-Roasted Red Pepper Dip and Slow-Roasted Onion Dip) and salads (Grilled Watermelon Salad and Hong Kong Confetti Salad) will disappear faster than you can say, “Buon appetito.”

Throughout PIZZA ON THE GRILL you will find easy to follow instructions for both gas and charcoal grills so no griller is left behind. And, with over 50 full-color photographs there is plenty of inspiration to kick off your shoes, pick up the tongs and fire up a pie-in-the-sky delight.

About the Authors:
Elizabeth Karmel was raised on barbecue in North Carolina. She is the author of Taming the Flame, writes for national magazines including Fine Cooking and Cooking Light, and is the executive chef of Hill Country restaurant in Manhattan. She is the creator of www.GirlsattheGrill.com and Grill Friends™; a line of kitchen and grilling tools that solve problems that real cooks have in the kitchen and around the grill—including the only serrated pizza wheel on the market (made to go with this book!). Elizabeth lives in Chicago, where she grills year-round on her balcony of her loft.

Bob Blumer is the creator and host of the award-winning Food Network shows “Surreal Gourmet” and “Glutton for Punishment.” He is the author of four cookbooks, most recently Surreal Gourmet Bites. When he is not traveling the world, cooking or challenging masters at their own game, you can find him grilling pizza in his backyard underneath the “D” of the Hollywood sign.Tell them about your favorite Pizzzza! Elizabeth and Bob want to hear from you! E-mail them at pizzaonthegrill@gmail.com.

Pizza on the Grill
100 Feisty-Fire Roasted Recipes for Pizza and More
By Elizabeth Karmel & Bob Blumer
$16.00 U.S. / $19.00 CAN, Original Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-60085-006-6