Francesco Panella returns with new season of Little Big Italy

The culinary travel program ‘Little Big Italy’, hosted by Francesco Panella, is returning for a new season after reaching the milestone of 100 episodes. Produced by Banijay Italia for Warner Bros. Discovery, the series celebrates its longevity by exploring Italian food culture and communities living abroad.

The new season is scheduled to premiere on September 7 on the Nove network, beginning with a special 100th-episode celebration set in Tokyo. Following the Tokyo episodes, Panella will travel to Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Formentera, Porto, Barcelona, Manchester, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg to find the best Italian restaurants as chosen by local expatriates.

Over its first 100 episodes, the show has covered 50 countries, 85 cities, and four continents, traveling more than 650,000 kilometers. The format involves three Italian expats selecting three local Italian restaurants to undergo a ‘test of Italianity’ and a final judgment by Panella to crown the city's best.