The Feast Of The Seven Fishes is upon us.
Before Italy’s unification in 1861, the territory consisted of various independently governed regions.
Over time, the tradition became more elaborate and distinctively recognized within the Italian-American community.
Frying seafood, and simply having the volume of seafood indoors, gets in the walls I swear.
I blogged about it last summer).
However, the number of fish dishes can vary, and not all families adhere strictly to seven.
Some only do one or two.
Some, like my friend Vincenzo’s family, does like 10-15.
Even the name is gross.
It’s chewy, it’s rubbery, and it takes some serious culinary skills to make it right.
Again, they’re tough, and chewy, and the texture is disgusting.
They are the only thing on this list worse than-
15- Eel
Eels are fucking gross.
They’re somehow scarier in real life than they were seeingThe Little Mermaidas a kid.
They’re a shit fish, if they actually even are fish.
14-Smelts
Theres two different kinds of smelts, salt water and fresh water.
And they both taste like ass.
Theyre larger sardines or anchiovi basically.
13- Gamberetti- Shrimp
Our guy Bubba told us all the zillion different various ways shrimp can be prepared.
Or you’ve got the option to dress it up scampi style.
My personal favorite is shrimp oreganata, aka “The Class Act”.
Shrimp oreganata is the sophisticated choice.
It’s shrimp, dressed up with breadcrumbs and herbs, baked to perfection.
Very similar to baked clams.
No matter what you do, you could’t go wrong with shrimp.
But it’s also nothing special and sees plenty of minutes the whole rest of the year as well.
12- Calamari Fritti- “The Ring Leader”
Fried calamari is like the popular kid at school.
Everyone knows it, everyone has an opinion about it, and it’s everywhere.
There’s a lot going on, and when it’s balanced right, it’s a masterpiece.
Shrimp, scallops, octopus, oh my!
10- Baccala (Salt Cod)- “The Salt of the Sea”
People fucking love bacala.
But I am sadly not one of them.
I will eat it of course, but not even close to my first choice.
Baccala is like that one relative everyone knows but no one wants to sit next to.
(I’ve never understood this).
9- Fritto Misto
Upgraded fried calamari.
There’s a lot going on, and when it’s balanced right, it’s a masterpiece.
Then you get it.
The slight char, complimented by the balsamic.
Cook it whole, or fileted, grilled, or baked, this course is always old reliable.
Cooked in a white wine sauce or marinara, they’re deliciously deceptive.
Sometimes you get that one that makes you question all your life choices.
There’s nothing worse.
You know you’re going to be deathly ill seconds after you swallow it.
But there’s not much better than a great heaping bowl of mussels in red or white.
4- Scallops
Scallops are so damn delicious.
Especially the little sweet bay ones if you’re lucky enough to have them available where you live.
3- Clams- All Ways
Linguine Vongole
The absolute best.
When you find somebody, or someplace that makes a great linguine and clams hold on to them.
There’s nothing better when it’s done right.
Baked
Garlic, breadcrumbs, accentuated by some nice cirtus.
2- Crab- All Ways
Crab is king.
Any other day, or take that off the board, and crab reigns supreme.
There’s a reason it’s expensive as fuck.
It’s so simple, yet so amazing.
Now anytime I go to a restaurant anywhere and they have cioppino on the menu, I get it.
It’s similar to a seafood stew but the broth is so much better because its tomato based.
It’s like a combination fettucine with a ton of butter and heat from red pepper flakes.
It’s lobster in a spicy tomato sauce, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
It’s luxurious, it’s bold, and it takes the crown.
This is perhaps the most famous Italian-American dish credited to being born in America.
For one, there are no lobsters like we have in the Atlantic in Italy.
So it has perhaps the deepest roots in the Italian American tradition celebrated here.
It was also Frank Sinatra’s 2nd favorite dish, period.
it’s possible for you to never miss with lobster.
It’s insane that we’re expected to do dessert at the end of eating all this fish.
At the very least you’re housing some pizzelle.
Christmas Eve is the best.
Everybody enjoy with your families and loved ones.
p.s.- Send me your pics of the feasts and your top 3.
