Chances are, you've never heard of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The practice, with specifically seven "fishes," was translated into the Italian-American community, but it's rooted in Italy, surrounding the Roman Catholic custom of celebrating Christmas Eve with a shared meatless meal before the midnight Mass (Italians call it "La Vigilia," the vigil).

It doesn't fly on most people's radar, but for seafood lovers like me, it's heaven: a full repast of nothing but delicious things from the sea, accented with the tastes of Italy. Think appetizers of calamari followed by linguini with clams, spaghetti with mussels, lobster fra diavolo, shrimp, squid, octopus, the glory of a whole, roasted fish, maybe stuffed with lemon and herbs, and the baccala (salt cod) that's so typical in Italy.

Read more

Source: http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/