The Eve of Seven Fishes: Christmas Cooking In The Peasant Tradition [Hardcover]

Robert Germano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

The recipes, stories, and history in The Eve of Seven Fishes will take you back to the simple days of your youth, from opening Christmas presents after enjoying the mouthwatering meal of anchovy spaghetti, fried smelts, and Baccala, to savoring the smell of garlic and the company of Uncle Tony and Cousin Vinnie.

Author Robert A. Germano entices your taste buds with his delectably authentic Italian recipes from the Old Country. With recipes centered around the simple Italian meal prepared on Christmas Eve, you’ll savor the flavor of garlic and basil in Germano’s homemade spaghetti sauce and learn how to make true Italian biscotti.

The kitchen was the heart of the Italian home. Not only was it a place to cook, but it was also the entertainment area for gossip, arguments, solving riddles, and more laughter than your cheeks could endure.

The Eve of Seven Fishes invites you into Germano’s kitchen and introduces you to the peasant cooking of years gone by. But remember, “Too many wines spoil the cook.”

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Robert A. Germano grew up in the section of the city known as Hilltop or Little Italy. In writing The Eve of Seven Fishes Germano-enjoying a glass of ‘vino’ with his son Jobie-sought to make sure the pride and tradition of his Cercesi ancestors endured for future generations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 110 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059567383X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595673834
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,470,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life is funny..., November 29, 2006

By 

R. Tinnell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eve of Seven Fishes: Christmas Cooking In The Peasant Tradition (Paperback)

THE EVE OF SEVEN FISHES

Life is funny. Once upon a time I set out to write FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES - a story set against the backdrop of an Italian-American family cooking the Christmas Eve seafood feast. Much of the inspiration for writing the story, in addition to my wonderful childhood memories of my family dinners, came from my first Christmas Eve with my wife Shannon - who was then my girlfriend. That was a very special time - the first time I ever told her I loved her. Now, like I said, life is funny. Robert Germano is someone I've known for years. But unbeknownst to me, at the same time I was writing my book, Robert was doing the same, albeit in a different fashion. Not a fictional book - but a cookbook dedicated to his family's take on the Feast. More with the funniness: it was Robert who played matchmaker and introduced me to Shannon. Shannon who wrote the cookbook portion of my Feast book. Did I mention life is funny?

So obviously I owe the man, which I disclose freely. You can stop reading now if you're worried my review will be in some way tainted.

Okay, for those of you who have faith in my impartiality and general integrity here's the skinny on Robert's book:

If you like those slick, smug cookbooks put out by celebrity chefs and snobby foodies move along. You don't want to come to Robert's dinner party. However, if you enjoy someone who very simply and lovingly bares their soul through their actions and obvious affections, sit down and pour a glass of chianti. On the surface THE EVE OF SEVEN FISHES is a collection of recipes for the Feast as practiced by folks from the Molise region of Italy. But it's more than that. Reading both the text and between the lines you experience one man's plaintive plea to re-connect - not only with his immediate family and childhood and holiday memories - but with a more ancient past. Robert Germano wasn't content to simply scribble down what his mom and aunts and so on had to say. No, Robert got on a plane and went to Italy to get things straight from the source. I think it blew his mind.

When I did Feast one of my main motivations was to capture the moment where we're on the verge of losing our ethnicity as Italian-Americans - that was part of the story in a sense. Robert, however, refuses to surrender. He's passionate about preserving and celebrating these culinary traditions. He does it in the voice of your dad, your uncle or your next door neighbor. He's not trying to impress you - he's too desperate for that. Desperate to try and preserve something that is beautiful and delicious and real.

If that's not reason enough to buy the book I don't know what to tell you (actually, I'd buy it just for the pasta with anchovies - but maybe that's just me).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From an "old" friend from Hufftown (Lots of Italians live there, too, Robert!), November 15, 2005

By 

J Lee "Janet" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eve of Seven Fishes: Christmas Cooking In The Peasant Tradition (Paperback)

I have yet to see the actual book but being a long time friend of Robert's, I had the opportunity to review his final draft while back in the "Burg" this past July. A great christmas gift for everyone,,,, even if you are not Italian! This book made my Christmas shopping a cake-walk this year! Janet Lee Knizner-Enders

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book!, December 4, 2007

By 

Suncerae A. Neason (West Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eve of Seven Fishes: Christmas Cooking In The Peasant Tradition (Paperback)

This book is wonderful! Full of stories and delicious recipes. I have the book, and it is one of my treasures!