Local flavor with an Italian twist: A Heber food truck you need to try

Owners Frank and Jamie Fortino. When he moved to Heber in 2015, the lack of pizza options inspired him to take his passion for pizza to the next level. Photo: Cucina Rustica.

HEBER CITTY, Utah — If you’re in Heber and craving Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza or a heaping bowl of fresh pasta, you’re in luck. Cucina Rustico, owned by the husband-and-wife duo Frank and Jamie Fortino, is a charming food truck serving up slices of Italy—one hand-tossed dough after another. 

What started as a weekend hobby in the 1990s became a full-blown business several decades later. Frank, a former Air Force flight-simulator technician, initially honed his pizza-making skills in his own backyard in 2007 after building his own wood-fired oven. Frank continued perfecting recipes for family and friends. “When I saw all the vendors at the farmers’ markets, I realized we could do that with pizza,” he says. 

When he moved to Heber in 2015, the lack of pizza options inspired him to take his passion for pizza to the next level. Teaming up with Jamie, he officially launched Cucina Rustico with a pizza oven on a trailer at the Heber Farmers Market in 2017. Since then, it’s become a local favorite, drawing everyone from ski bums to soccer moms hungry for a taste of authentic Italian cuisine.

What Makes It Special

There’s pizza, and then there’s “wood-fired, homemade-dough, hand-tossed” pizza—the kind that leaves you planning your next visit before the first bite is done. The secret, they’ll tell you, starts with the dough, made fresh daily. Each pizza is baked in a blazing wood-fired oven, creating the perfect crispy-yet-chewy crust. 

The pasta? It’s crafted with just as much intention, cooked to perfection and topped with rich, bold sauces that scream comfort. Whether you go for the classic Pizza Margherita or the fan favorite, Franco, or indulge in a creamy Fettuccine Alfredo, the menu focuses on fresh, local when possible, simple ingredients.

“Our unique combinations are really popular. We take a traditional pepperoni pizza and put rosemary on it, which people don’t expect,” Frank explains. 

And it doesn’t stop there. Seasonal offerings like The Great Pumpkin or Dutch Apple Pie allow Frank’s Italian heritage to shine through in the recipes and the passion for sharing them. It’s not just a meal; it’s an experience that carries hints of old-world charm infused with Heber’s laid-back vibe, where visitors enjoy grabbing a pizza to go. Frank is often spotted chatting with locals about the best fly-fishing spots, always happy to trade tips with customers who share his love for the outdoors.

“I love being an entrepreneur and coming up with new ideas and putting them into action,” Frank adds. “I enjoy making pizza and serving people; it’s fun.” 

Depending on the season, the food truck rotates locations, but you can find it at Heber City Hall during the warmer months, between 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Cucina Rustico also is a regular at events and offers catering.