The FEAST of The 7 FISH
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
Daniel Bellino
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is the author of
The Feast of The 7 Fish, a popular cookbook celebrating the Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. The book features recipes, stories, and instructions for preparing the multi-course seafood meal, often called La Vigilia. About Daniel Bellino-Zwicke:
He is a long-time Italian food and wine professional from New York.
- He has worked as a chef, wine director, and managing partner at various restaurants, including , which he founded.Bar Cichetti
- Bellino-Zwicke has authored several best-selling Italian cookbooks, including Sunday Sauce, Ragu Bolognese Cookbook, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook.
- He often writes about Italian-American cuisine and culture, incorporating personal stories and travel experiences.
- About the book, The Feast of The 7 Fish:
The book serves as both a cookbook and a cultural guide to the traditional meal.
- It provides historical context for the Southern Italian and Italian-American Christmas Eve feast.
- The recipes include traditional dishes such as Baked Clams Oreganta, Seafood Salad, Linguine with Clam Sauce, and Mussels Marinara.
- The book aims to preserve and share the family tradition, which has often been passed down orally through generations.
- The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes:
Origin: It is an Italian-American tradition that evolved from the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the eve of holy days. While fish-centric meals are common in Southern Italy, the specific "seven fishes" tradition is largely an American development.
- Symbolism: The number seven can symbolize various things, including the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, the seven hills of Rome, or the seven days of creation.
- The meal: It is a multi-course dinner featuring a variety of seafood, which can include baccalĂ (salt cod), calamari, clams, mussels, and eel. The specific dishes often vary by region and family tradition
