The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a big deal in our family. Although the origins of this feast are somewhat mired in controversy, it is a holiday that our Italian-American family celebrated each and every year with absolute gusto. In our childhood, our parents would bundle us against the cold and off we went to celebrate the occasion at my Uncle Nelson’s apartment. His family lived above the liquor store that he owned and we would run up the steps to his apartment, aroma of wine and spirits floating up the hall, excited to see our cousins, exchange gifts and eat for hours. The burning Yule log was always featured prominently on the TV set. Midnight mass always followed the feast, although many an adult snoozed their way through Mass, an artifact of all that food and vino??
We now carry on this tradition with much love and excitement. The formal sit down dinner is now usually replaced with a buffet as family and friends come and go, be it for one fish or seven. The number of fish frequently expand to greater than seven but who is counting anyway??
Please enjoy our collection of recipes from over the years – some knock off a few fish in a single dish; others showcase a single pesce. However you decide to celebrate, may the simple sharing of a meal together bring much joy during this holiday season. From our table to yours, wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Buon Natale!
Michele and Joe
