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It is said that every recipe has a story behind it. This statement rings especially true among Italian Americans, for whom the significance of food extends far beyond sustenance, and cooking is among the most visible expressions of identity and pride. Eating rituals figured prominently in the Italo American immigration experience. Distinct food and...

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As a font of indelible folk characters, Christmas beats all other holidays: Santa, Rudolph, Tiny Tim, the Grinch, David Sedaris, you name it. In the Charleston section of Staten Island, there is also a retired Pepsi foreman named Joseph DiMartino, who in 2002 — the year after his wife, Debra Ann, was killed in the World Trade Center attack — began...

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The average Christmas Day meal is enough to fill your belly for a good few days. Turkey. Meats. Vegetables. Potatoes. Italians have the right idea by abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve. Instead, the tradition is for Italians to eat fish dishes. But even with this common practice, another tradition is to go to town with the fish meals on 24th Dec...

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Barbara Falzone The clink clink clink of clams being scrubbed in the sink. The smell of fried shrimp. Beautiful whole lobsters cleaned and baking in a spicy tomato sauce. Aglio e oglio gently purring in the frying pan to make the clam sauce. The tree glowing, music playing, my mom and aunt in their Christmas aprons. My most favorite night of the ye...

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On Christmas Eve this year, like every other year, my family will start with the clam dip fresh out of the oven. As the clam dip cools down there's the "pizza" (really just bread with stuff on it) and some salami to snack on, as well as two plates of zeppole (one stuffed with chocolate, one with anchovies — pick carefully). Around 3 p.m. we'll get...

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For international residents spending Christmas in Italy, the festive period can be a lonely time, far away from friends and family. But as the saying goes, Christmas is a time for giving – and giving your time to others in need will not only be gratefully received but will make any foreigner feel more connected to their community in Italy. You’ll p...

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New Year’s Eve traditions may vary around the world, but there sure are a lot of similarities. When Gianni Betti, front-of-the-house manager and co-owner of Cibo e Beve Italian Restaurant, talks about New Year’s Eve celebrations in his childhood in Florence, Italy, he reminisces about meals filled with friends and family and rich dishes to herald a...

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We asked Milan-based blogger Thea Duncan of Doing Italy to share her insider's knowledge of how the Milanesi ring in the new year:  "Without a doubt the most traditional way to ring in the New Year is in Piazza Duomo. Every year the city of Milan hosts a free concert in the main square with music, comedians and special guests. If you’d like to list...

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Traditionally, Christmas represents the moment of the year dedicated to some of the most elaborate and tasty dishes and recipes of Italian cuisine, from North to South. There are, in fact, some dishes that absolutely cannot be missed throughout the Christmas period. Every city and every region boasts its own specialties. In Rome the abbacchio trium...

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When it comes to Christmas in an Italian American household, there is one word you need to keep in mind: Food! Everything revolves around what to eat! Now usually American families would think about what to prepare maybe a few days before or they directly made reservations at a nice restaurant. Now in an Italian American family, that is unthinkable...

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