A Christmas Eve Tradition Close to My Heart

Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers for a tradition that’s always been close to my heart: the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Rooted in La Vigilia, it’s a meatless holiday meal centered around seafood and a way for Italian-American families like mine to stay connected to our roots.

Some of my favorite memories are from my grandparents’ house — all of us crammed into the garage (no matter how cold it was), frying fish like cod, calamari and smelts, dancing to Italian music while my grandpa twirled my grandma, and sharing a few Birra Morettis with the cousins and talking football while waiting for Christmas Day to arrive.

That sense of togetherness is what the Feast has always been about for me.

And this year, I’m excited to share a few of our family favorites that have been passed down through generations. From buttermilk fried calamari and Italian fried smelts to a traditional Christmas Eve baccalà salad and my Slovak grandma’s famous "Full Heart" pierogi lasagna, each dish brings a little bit of our family’s history — and the same warmth and togetherness — straight to your table.  I hope you enjoy whatever your holiday food traditions are and, most importantly, the people around you that make it special.

Buon Natale,

Danny Catullo, Co-Founder & Chief Foodie Finder