During this time of year there is a dichotomy of emotions that most everyone over 40 (and maybe it applies to anyone who has lost family) experiences, as turkeys are dressed and doors are donned with wreaths.   On one hand, there is a joy and excitement that the season brings with it: festive parties, twinkling lights, glorious music, dreams...

by Marguerite Preston   Here's a guide to eight great restaurants that are serving that traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Many have taken the literal route, and are serving seven course meals of octopus, salt cod, clams, and more, but there are also few more condensed meals on the list. ...

We are lucky. As Italians, we've surely had our chance to be spoiled when it comes to food. Lucky and cursed at the same time, since our standards are so high!   This is particularly true as the holidays approach. We often find ourselves fighting at the stove to recreate that particular dish, hunting for a rare ingredient, digging into mom's...

By Merle Exit   The Feast of the Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci), celebrated on Christmas Eve and also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia), is believed to have originated in southern Italy.   The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence which, in this case, meant refraini...

Though rich foods and sweets tend to dominate the holiday season, at least one segment of the population celebrates with a marginally lighter meal.   The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition, brought here by Italian-Americans. As the name suggests, it's a seafood-heavy affair, one that pays homage to a Catholic custom of abstain...