The chef who bought a well-known restaurant in Collingswood is preparing a feast for an Italian-American Christmas tradition. Chef Michael DeLone bought Nunzio Ristorante Rustico last year from his mentor, and is bringing the tradition of "The Feast of Seven Fishes" to the Italian BYOB eatery on Restaurant Row. Its namesake, Nunzio Patruno, was...
READ MOREMany Italian-Americans today trace their heritage back to the Italian immigrants who arrived on Ellis Island back in the late 1800s. Along with their luggage, they brought their language, traditions, and food. These days, Italian food is so ubiquitous in American culture that some countries may recognize pizza and, to a lesser extent, spaghetti as...
READ MOREThe holidays are coming, and while people across the United States may end up doing something similar – exchanging gifts, toasting the season with eggnog and eating too much food – there’s no doubt that different parts of the county have different traditions when it comes to Christmas. And in New Jersey, it’s all about the seven fishes, a study cla...
READ MOREIt’s that time of year where the Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Philadelphia is in full swing. However, in 2022, there are some new variations of the classic meal and some traditional favorites to indulge in, and we’ve got a round-up of all of the renditions to try. Oyster House One thing this Center City hotspot certainly k...
READ MOREIf you grew up in an Italian-American family, then chances are you celebrated the Feast Of The Seven Fishes as part of your year-end celebrations. Usually observed during Christmas Eve dinner (Cenone della Vigilia di Natale), it’s a special holiday feast that includes seven different types of seafood. But what’s the connection to seven fishes on Ch...
READ MOREEach Christmas Eve, Philadelphians of all ages gather around family dinner tables or crowd into tiny side street restaurants to commemorate the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The massive, multi-course meal is largely celebrated by Italian-American families, and the tradition itself is based on the Roman Catholic practice of not eating meat on Christma...
READ MOREIf I close my eyes, I can vividly recall the emotions, aromas, and flavors of the various holidays from my childhood both in Italy and Philadelphia, to which I immigrated as a child. For Italians, holidays make up an important part of the family fabric and traditions that define us. Although I am enamored with all the holidays, my favorite has alwa...
READ MOREThe Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition for Christmas Eve, which is also known as La Vigilia in the Southern Italy region. The seven-course meal, typically eaten on Christmas Eve, features fish and seafood-filled dishes such as stews, soups, and pastas. And luckily, for Austin, two local restaurants are offering their versions of the...
READ MOREDec. 24 has always been my favorite day of the year. Until I was 12, family members numbering in the dozens would descend upon my grandparents’ tiny two bedroom apartment in Troy, New York, for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Although the Italian tradition typically means a day of fasting followed by a meatless banquet at night, my family took the i...
READ MOREIn 1823, Clement Clark Moore wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas, one of the most beloved Christmas poems of all time. But, in describing a home in which “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”, Moore makes pretty clear he isn’t Italian American! Because for us, the “Night Before Christmas” means La Vigilia… or in Italian America, The Feast of...
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