I first had the combination of almonds, shrimp, and toasted breadcrumbs while visiting the tiny Sicilian island of Pantelleria many years ago. After a long journey that involved 2 flights, a taxi, and an overnight ferry in a cabin with 3 very sweet Italian women (who were mystified as to why I was traveling solo), I was superbly rewarded with some of the best memories and meals I have ever eaten. To this day, one of my most vivid food memories is the delicious pasta I had topped with sweet succulent shrimp, and crunchy almonds then dusted with toasted breadcrumbs.

Continue reading Sicilian Sauteed Shrimp with Almonds at Our Italian Table.

The menu is ready and all the fish has been ordered over here on the East Coast! My Food Blogger’s Feast is ready to roll….a huge GRAZIE MILLE to my foodie friends for providing your most loved recipes! I will be posting recipes and photos over the next few days and do not hesitate to drop me a note if you need a recipe in advance….more to come!!

Buon Natale!!

Michele

La Vigilia di Natale 2013

Antipasti

Cappon Magro (Italian Seafood Salad) – Our Italian Table

Gamberi Oreganati (Shrimp with Bread Crumbs) – Come Follow Me to Italy

Polpette di Baccala (Baccala Meatballs) – AJ and Gigi (The Godkids!)

Pecorino Toscano Staginato with Chestnut Honey

Orange Salad with Anchovies and Black Olives

Artichoke and Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms

Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers

Primi 

Saffron-Tomato Mussels over Capellini – Deb’s Recipe a Day

Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni with Lobster Tomato Cream Sauce – Our Italian Table

Secondi

Planked Mustard Pepper Salmon – Debra’s My Italian Garden

Involtini di Pesce Spada (Swordfish Rolls) – Ciao Chow Linda

Lemon-Zested Broccolini with White Anchovies and Garlic Confit

Salad of Butter Lettuce and Radicchio with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Dolci

Frozen Orange Cream Torte with Dark Chocolate Crust and Spiced Cranberries

 EXTRA FISH Permitted!

Continue reading Michele’s Feast of the Seven(+) Fishes – Food Blogger Style at Our Italian Table.

On December 24th, Italian-Americans gather for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This special feast is unknown to many native Italians although serving a boatload of fish on La Vigilia di Natale (the Christmas vigil) is not. In an article in Edible Manhattan, the author discusses that Carol Field wrote in ‘Celebrating Italy: The Tastes and Traditions of Italy as Revealed Through Its Feasts, Festivals and Sumptuous Foods’ that the tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve started when the Church imposed the rule of ‘mangiare de magro’, (basically – feast of ‘no’ meat) which would allow the body to purify and get it ready for big feasts.

Continue reading A Food Blogger’s Feast of the Seven(+) Fishes!! at Our Italian Table.

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Wishing everyone a very, very merry Christmas from very sunny California!

My brother, Joe, and I have been cooking up a storm for the last few days in preparation for La Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve) and our Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Wishing you could all be here to join us!!

Our menu is below –  look for recipes in the week ahead!

Tanti auguri di Buon Natale!!

Continue reading Our Feast of the Seven Fishes 2009 at Our Italian Table.