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Denham Court food truck Buon Appetit to shift into restaurant space as business booms

What started out as a small food truck with a handful of tables and chairs has blossomed into a viral foodie destination known for its antique Italian food. See what’s next for the family-owned business.

Western Sydney food truck Buon Appetit

What started as a small food truck with a handful of tables and chairs has blossomed into a viral foodie destination known for its traditional Italian food, with the family owners ready to take on the challenge of starting a restaurant.

Buon Appetit was first launched as a food truck in Denham Court 18 months ago by the Vitagliano family, which consists of matriarch Rosa, her husband Joe and their children Ben and Mara.

Rosa left her job as a restaurant manager for Hungry Jacks while her son Ben left his role as operations manager at an advertising agency, and the family started their new venture with a $20,000 truck in 2020.

Now, they are readying to open up a restaurant in Camden.

While the exact location cannot be revealed as settlements are finalised, the family will open their brick-and-mortar chapter of Buon Appetit early next year.

Mara, Joe, Ben and Rosa Vitagliano, at their family food truck, Buon Appetit, in Denham Court. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Mara, Joe, Ben and Rosa Vitagliano, at their family food truck, Buon Appetit, in Denham Court. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We started with this little truck, and it just bloomed,” Ms Rosa Vitagliano said.

“We had eight chairs or so with six or tables, and we had to keep adding seating, and now we have 140 seats and the second food truck, so we are maxed out.

Rosa Vitagliano. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Rosa Vitagliano. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Some of the delicious dishes sold out of the Buon Appetit food truck. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Some of the delicious dishes sold out of the Buon Appetit food truck. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We can only push so much out of that location, and we love our food, so this seemed like the right next step.”

Ms Vitagliano said the restaurant would have a similar feel to their food truck location, including lights and music, with no changes to the family recipes.

“This food truck, for me, feels like everyone is coming to our house for dinner, and we want to keep that,” she said.

Buon Appetit serves food the Vitagliano family have been eating at home for years, like gnocchi, pasta and cannoli, with the vodka sauce one of their most popular dishes. Ms Vitagliano learnt to cook from her late mother, Tina, an “antique” style Italian cook.

They use 240kg of potatoes alone for their gnocchi, and it takes six people working across six hours to make all the gnocchi needed for a week.

Ms Vitagliano credits the power of social media with helping them gain a loyal following of pasta lovers. Kevin La, better known as beloved foodie blogger Sydney Food Boy, visited their food truck and shared it on his Instagram.

“It rocketed up from there. He was part of the reason why we expanded so quickly,” she said.

Harnessing the momentum, Ms Vitagliano’s daughter Mara worked hard to boost their socials and is behind the delicious videos of pasta, burrata and sweet treats that garner thousands of views.

Ms Vitagliano said while there might be the occasional disagreement or bickering, the family loves working together, and their love for authentic Italian food unites them.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/denham-court-food-truck-buon-appetit-to-shift-into-restaurant-space-as-business-booms/news-story/ebcd4a623600b0ebc4f41c76ebaef982