The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the annual Christmas Eve epic seafood feast celebrated by Italian-Americans. For them, it’s this meal, rather than Christmas Day dinner, that is the centerpiece meal of Christmas. Family come from afar. Friends and neighbors may be invited.

I hope this is inspiration for stepping out of your traditional food comfort zone. You don’t have to be an Italian-American to start your own little Christmas Eve tradition. Have a theme dinner!

The origin of the Feast can be traced back to southern Italy. With its long coastline and bountiful seafood, food from the sea has always been a big part of their diets. The tradition of eating a large and meatless meal on Christmas Eve is common throughout Italy. Not surprisingly, Italian immigrants brought this tradition with them upon their arrival in America.

Although I can’t promise, there may be more recipes coming soon.

Cocktails

• Bloody Caesar (Bloody Mary With Clamato Juice)

Amuse-bouche

• Raw Scallop Crudo
• Scallop And Uni Sashimi Tasting Spoon

Soup

• New England Clam Chowder, Instant Pot
• Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup) With Shiitake And Black Trumpet Mushrooms

Appetizer

• Authentic Hawaiian Tuna Poke
• Cast Iron Skillet BBQ Oysters
• Cast Iron Skillet BBQ Oysters Rockefeller
• Cast Iron Skillet BBQ Oysters With Ginger And Scallions薑葱生蠔
• Cast Iron Skillet Garlic-Parsley Butter BBQ Oysters
• Clam Dig! Steamed Clams With Edible Sand
• Hawaiian Salmon Poke
• Mexican Rockfish Ceviche (Ceviche De Pescado) On A Homemade Tostada
• Raw Oysters On The Half Shell With Cucumber Mignonette Or Cocktail Sauce
• Scallop Crudo With Uni And Caviar On Watermelon Radish

Salad

• Caprese Inspired Mexican Fiesta Salad

California Crab Feed

• Steamed Dungeness Crabs
• Thai Seafood Dipping Sauce

Sides

• Bowtie Pasta With Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
• Caramelized Broccoli With Sesame And Lemon

• Cioppino (San Francisco Seafood Stew), Instant Pot
• Honey Mustard Roasted Salmon Over Asparagus
• Linguine With Clams Ahoy! Sauce
• New England Clambake, Instant Pot
• Nigiri Sushi, Salmon Hand Roll (Temaki), And Tuna And Salmon Sashimi
• Pan Seared Salmon Tacos And Mango Salsa
• Sautéed Garlic Butter Shrimp Or Prawns
• Sesame Crusted Seared Tuna And Wilted Arugula Salad
• Shrimp, Okra, And Andouille Smoked Sausage Gumbo, Instant Pot
• Squid Ink Pasta With Clams, Scallops, And Uni Sauce
• Stir-Fried Hard-Shell Clams With Lemongrass In Fresh Southeast Asian Sauce (Tumis Kerang Dengan Sereh)

Cheese and fruit plate

Dessert

• Crème De Menthe Chocolate Parfaits

Post-meal drinks and pastries

• Haldi Ka Doodh (Hot Turmeric Latte) Traditional Golden Milk With Pure Vanilla