Buddy Valastro, or “Cake Boss,” as most of us know him, is hitting the road with his wife Lisa and their four kids for the Food Network special Buddy’s Family Vacation.
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The 8-episode special follows Buddy and his family as they RV from their home in New Jersey into the deep South in search of fantastic food and family adventures.
Over a span of three weeks, the family scours the South in search of local eats and culture in the South’s hottest spots.
From feeding gators and eating spicy etoufee in New Orleans to taking ghost tours in Savannah and visiting Graceland and Dollywood, Buddy’s Family Vacation is an epic road trip, Valastro style.
In the premiere episode, the family loads up the RV in New Jersey and hits the road for some overdue family time. On their way South, they make a pit stop in Delaware to sample some of the east coast’s best seafood. In South Carolina, they make saltwater taffy the old fashioned way in Myrtle Beach. Continuing west to Charleston the family feasts on creamy shrimp and grits and frozen custard.
Immediately following the conclusion of the premiere, Food Network plans to air a second, bonus episode. In Savannah, the family chows down on a Tybee Island crab platter and fried chicken. After trying their hand at catching a ghost in Savannah’s haunted historic district, they sample catfish and pan-seared flounder and finish up with hand-crafted chocolate treats.
Buddy’s Family Vacation premieres on Food Network Friday, May 27, at 8 p.m., with two back-to-back-episodes.
Upcoming episodes feature stops in the Big Easy, Louisiana Bayou and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
Here’s a look at upcoming episodes in the series:
Surviving a Family Vacation in South Carolina
Buddy Valastro’s taking a break from his bakeries and loading his wife and kids into an RV for some much-needed family time! On their way south, they make a pit stop in Delaware to eat some of the best seafood on the eastern seaboard. Upon arriving in South Carolina, they make salt water taffy the old-fashioned way at Wee-R-Sweetz in Myrtle Beach, then continue west to Charleston to feast on creamy shrimp and grits at The Glass Onion and frozen custard at Persimmon Cafe.
Love the One You’re With, Savannah Style
Buddy Valastro and his family hit the beautiful and charming city of Savannah with full force, stopping first in Tybee Island to chow down on an amazing crab platter. Next, they head to Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for crunchy, juicy southern-fried chicken, then try to catch a ghost in Savannah’s haunted historic district. Then, it’s delicious catfish and pan-seared flounder at the Wyld Dock Bar before heading to Lulu’s Chocolate Bar to make hand-crafted chocolaty treats!
Learnin’ Made Easy in the Big Easy
Buddy Valastro and his family continue to look for excitement as they touch down in New Orleans, where they start with a brunch of French etouffee — a hearty stew with crawfish and vegetables — at Horn’s. They tour the French Quarter, then stop to cool down with fluffy shaved ice at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz. Later, they visit Red Gravy, where they make homemade ravioli, and finally, they complete their Big Easy trip at Cafe du Monde with warm, powdered beignets!
Hello Bayou, Goodbye Picky Eaters
Buddy Valastro and his family’s road trip continues as they reach the Louisiana Bayou. There, they tour swamps full of live alligators and make some extraordinary food stops, starting with fried shrimp and oyster po’ boys at the Olde Tyme Grocery in Lafayette, La. Next, Buddy takes the cooking into his own hands and prepares boudin, a Louisiana-style spicy sausage filled with rice and vegetables. The search for eccentric local foods continues with a stop at Dark Roux for elevated southern classics, then to their last stop: Crawfish Town USA!
Pilgrimage to Graceland: Valastro Style!
Buddy Valastro and his family head towards Memphis to visit Graceland, the home of the one and only Elvis Presley. As a tribute, they indulge in Elvis-inspired peanut butter milkshakes at the Trolley Stop Market. Next, their taste buds lead them to Marlowe’s Ribs, where they feast on irresistible ribs in a tangy barbecue sauce, then chase down the Say Cheese Truck to enjoy the Elvis Italiano sandwich. The family finally gets some sweet satisfaction with “the king” cupcakes at Muddy’s Bake Shop, then stops by the famous Peabody Hotel, known for its ducks.
Team Valastro Takes on Huntsville
Buddy Valastro and his family’s vacation continues as they arrive in Huntsville, Ala., where they train like astronauts at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. But that’s not their only mission here — they’re also discovering local Alabama foods, like Big Bob Gibson’s award-winning white barbecue sauce and Bigfoot’s Little Donuts’ warm mini-donuts with juicy fruit toppings. Then, on their final stop at Dallas Mill Deli, they indulge in a sweet and savory strawberry pretzel salad.