Here we go! Christmas Eve… for my family, it is even more important than Christmas Day. We have been talking about this night for weeks. We have invited friends, my mom and I have decided the table setting and selected the dishes and Stefano has chosen the bubbly and the still wines for tonight.
My parents brought delicious treats from Rome and Stefano brought traditional sweets from Milan and Genoa.
To make you understand how much work and planning went into the preparations for this magical night and to give you a flavor of an Italian Christmas Eve, we decided we would share with you the pictures of some of the food that will be served. We follow the Catholic tradition, so you won’t see any meat around!
We’ll start with a shrimp cocktail, some eggs au gratin, a broccoli quiche, a potato frittata, smoked salmon crostini, blue cheese puffs with fontina sauce and cauliflower au gratin. With these, Stefano is going to serve a Ferghettina, Franciacorta Brut DOCG S.A., a Classic Method Italian spumante aged 24 months on its lees.
We’ll continue with spaghetti with clams and a truffle risotto. Afterwards, we’ll serve branzino fillets with vegetables. The wines that Stefano paired with these main courses are an Argiolas, Vermentino di Sardegna Costamolino DOC 2011 and a Vigneti Massa, Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona DOC 2009 for the truffle risotto.
For dessert, we’ll have some fruit (grapes and cherries) and lots and lots of sweets: panettone (a traditional Christmas sweet bread loaf originally from Milan), pandolce (a traditional Christmas cake from Genoa), dried figs, chocolate-coated torrone and chocolate torrone with hazelnuts that my mom bought in Vatican City, marrons glacés from Cova (one of the most famous patisseries in Milan), chocolate orangettes, marzipan fruits and chocolates, all hand-made, from Viganotti (one of the oldest and best chocolate stores in Genoa, who make all their chocolate and marzipan masterpieces in the workshop adjoining the store, using only the best, freshest ingredients: if you are ever going to be in Genoa make sure you pay them a visit – you will not regret it). With the dessert, Stefano is going to serve Le Colture, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry DOCG, a Charmat-Martinotti Method spumante, and for the chocolate a Lustau, Pedro Ximenez Sherry San Emilio – Solera Reserva DO.
Hopefully, after all this food and wine, we are still going to function! 😉
All of us at Flora’s Table wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas! May Santa make your dreams come true tonight!!!
Flora's Table 
Thank you, Flora’s Table! Wish you and yours a Wonderful Celebrations! 😀 Fae.
Thank you, Fae.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year! 🙂
Oh my gosh! That sounds like quite the feast- what a fun tradition 🙂 Hope you all have a lovely time this evening and tomorrow and Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Heather. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy the rest of the holidays! 🙂
Buon Natale!
Buone feste anche a te, Tonette, ed alla tua famiglia.
Grazie! Buon Anno!
Buon Anno anche a te, Tonette 🙂
Merry Christmas! 🙂
Thank you, Zanzana. Did Santa leave you a vegetable garden under your tree? 😉
I wish your a very, very green New Year!
A snowy garden for the time being 🙂 Happy New Year to you, Stefano and the whole family! 🙂
Still a garden, isn’t it? 😉
Looking forward to seeing and reading what you are going to do with it. 🙂
What a feast, it sounds utterly delicious. Enjoy the rest of Christmas day.
Thank you, B.
What I’m really enjoying during these days is my quite time, drinking coffee and reading lots of Italian books that my parents brought for me. I know you can understand me. 😉
I wish you a fabulous 2013!
Merry Christmas, everything looks absolutely delicious. Have a wonderful day with your family and friends
Thank you so much! Hope you are enjoying every bit of the holidays.
I wish you and your family a very happy New Year. 🙂
Merry Christmas !
What a great feast ! Have a wonderful holiday😃
Thank you, Violet!
I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2013. 🙂
It’s all so gorgeous! Put me down for the truffle risotto! It all looks too yummy to actually eat! I hope your Christmas was as fabulous as it looks!! xo
Sarah, anytime you want. No notice required. 🙂
Stefano and I wish you and your family a very happy New Year. May joy and dreams fill each one of your days.
Oh what a great Italian celebration! Nummy food and traditions! It’s so beautiful! Thank you for sharing such great ideas! Bon Appetitto!(Did I spell that right?)
Close enough 🙂 Buon Appetito a tutti voi per domani sera!
I wish you and your family a peaceful and healthy New Year.
Looks very delicious! I hope you have had a lovely christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Thank you, S.! May the New Year bring you happiness and joy.
These all look so tasty!!! 😀
Thanks a lot, girls! 🙂