Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “La Vigilia” as it is known in Italy, goes back as early as the 6th century. On Christmas Eve, Catholic Italians refrain from eating meat in an act of cleansing before celebrating the birth of Jesus. There are multiple thoughts on where the number seven comes from – the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church, the seven days it took God to create the world, or even, possibly, for the Seven Hills of Rome. While the number of fishes consumed is typically seven, specific fishes can vary from region to region and even family to family. Some staples from along the Italian coast include squid, eel, shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, octopus, scallops, anchovies, sardines and more. Along with seafood as the centerpiece, Italian families gather and prepare a feast with vegetables, pasta, bread and sweets before Christmas mass.
They’re putting their own CUCINA spin on Feast of the Seven Fishes. They will be offering 2-3 seafood dishes per night from December 18th – December 24th. Their chefs are excited to share their small plate creations with you and invite you to visit often and try them all!
Follow along on their Instagram page as they’ll be sharing the specials they will feature in each restaurant every day.
Seven Fishes:
grilled swordfish | roasted carrot + cipollini + potato conserva + salimento picante olive vinaigrette
fried shrimp + avocado | scampi aioli
saba bbq eel | green apple potato puree + onion fritto
hog island oysters | red cabbage kraut + sesame
lobster + chilled squid ink angel hair pasta | pickled kohlrabi + spicy tomato aioli + bottarga
rye crusted tuna | borlotti bean + apple + mint + cider vinegar
crispy squid + mussels | tarragon risotto + crème fraîche
For more information about the Newport location, click here.
For more information about the Irvine location, click here.
