Ep 9. Buon Appetito!

In the ninth episode of season five of Eat St., host James Cunningham travels to Los Angeles, California to explore some of the best Italian cuisine that the city has to offer. The episode is titled "Buon Appetito!" and is a celebration of the delicious flavors of Italy.

The first stop on James' culinary journey is at The Urban Oven, a food truck serving up authentic wood-fired pizzas. James chats with owner and chef Scott Tremonti, who has a passion for making delicious pizza that comes through in every bite. Scott uses high-quality ingredients like fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and homemade dough to craft his mouth-watering pizzas. James tries The Urban Oven's signature Margherita pizza, which has a perfectly charred crust and a savory tomato sauce.

Next, James visits the Nonna's Kitchenette food truck, which is owned and operated by three sisters who draw on their Italian heritage to create delicious and innovative Italian-American dishes. The sisters, Lisa, Joanne, and Christina, take traditional Italian recipes and put a unique twist on them, creating dishes like their famous Nonna's Balls, which are deep-fried risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese. James tries the Nonna's Balls and declares them to be a "flavor explosion."

At the third stop on his tour, James visits the Gastrobus, a food truck that specializes in gourmet sandwiches. Owner and chef, Kirsten "Kirstie" Helle-Schmid, prepares a mouth-watering Italian-style sub called The Pig and the Fig. The sandwich is made with braised pork belly, goat cheese, fig jam, and arugula, all piled high on a fresh baguette. James raves about the combination of sweet and savory flavors.

James' next stop is at the Vizzi Truck, a food truck that serves up gourmet California cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. Chef Andy Vizcarra creates a unique dish called the Carbonara Fries. The fries are topped with bacon, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy carbonara sauce. James declares the Carbonara Fries to be a "game-changer."

The final stop on James' culinary tour is at the Il Forno Mobile food truck which specializes in baking delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas in an authentic wood-fired oven. Owner and chef Donato Poto has a passion for using fresh, high-quality ingredients to create pizza that is bursting with flavor. James tries the Margherita Pizza and is blown away by the perfectly blistered crust and the incredible flavors of the fresh basil and mozzarella.

Throughout the episode, James also takes time to explore the unique culture and community of food truck owners and operators in Los Angeles. He meets with other food truck owners and chefs and learns about the challenges and rewards of running a successful mobile food business in one of the country's largest cities.

Overall, "Buon Appetito!" is a celebration of the delicious and diverse Italian cuisine that can be found around Los Angeles. James Cunningham's enthusiasm and humor make this episode a joy to watch, and the incredible food on display will leave viewers drooling and eager to try out some of these delicious dishes for themselves.