NJ SPICE

It’s not casual but it is ethnic!  The holiday season is upon us and we really need a lift, so I’m writing about an extravagant affair today.  (I feel justified, having just spent considerable time – and money – online donating to the food banks and other agencies my friends and family asked me to, in lieu of holiday gifts – this is the second year we’ve done this, and I highly recommend it for those of us who have enough “stuff” – and we know who we are, don’t we?)

Now: I’ve been attending the Festa dei Sette Pesci (Feast of the Seven Fishes) at the Baldassari Regency off and on for a number of years now, and it is an amazing evening of food, wine, and conviviality. 

The dinner, an Italian tradition that is always spectacularly updated at the Baldassari Regency (note the photo of tempura shrimp from a past dinner), has grown in scope and ambition, and this year’s, which takes place on December 7 at 5:00pm, is no exception.  The evening consists of an open bar cocktail hour, followed by many multi-part courses, and their wine pairings, prepared by well-known chefs from Washington DC and New York. 

There are the 6 Stuzzichini, or passed appetizers.  Then there are the 5 Antipasti, or plated appetizers.  The Primo Piatto, or starch course, is porcini mushroom risotto with roasted Maine scallops, and the Secondo Piatto, or protein course, is slow-cooked veal cheeks and butter poached lobster.  (The menu always includes a sprinkling of non-fish items, for those who don’t “do” seafood.) And of course, dessert.  Usually that means dessert, then little pastries and biscotti, and, of course, Limoncello.

All the details, including a list of chefs, is below, just click on “more.” 

The dinner was, of this writing, already about 60% sold out, and the invitations to past attendees had barely been mailed.  So, if you want to kick off the holidays with a very festive “dressed-up” dinner, don’t delay.  I can’t attend this year, so you can have my seat! 

Festa dei Sette Pesci

Featuring celebrity chefs:

Chef Enzo Febbraro

D’Acqua

Chef Fabio Trabocchi

Fiamma, N.Y.

Chef Cesare Lanfranconi

Ristorante Tosca, Spezie Ristorante

Chef Francesco Ricchi

Cesco, Etrusco

Chef Gianluigi Dellaccio

Dolce Gelati

Chef  Christopher Willis

Posh Restaurant and Supper Club

$150 per person, all-inclusive.

Includes taxes, gratuities, reception with premium open bar and passed stuzzichini, bottled Pellegrino water, all wine pairings, and valet parking.

For additional information please request an invitation.

Limited seating – RSVP 609.392.1280

or paolo@baldassari.com