Soba Noodle Soup

Soba is a buckwheat noodle and is traditionally eaten during the Japanese New Year Holiday that is celebrated January 1st-3rd. In Tokyo and surrounding areas, there are also traditions of giving out soba to new neighbors after a house move (Hikkoshi soba), although this practice is now rare.

Vegetarian Mexican Pozole Soup

Corn was a sacred plant for the Aztecs and other inhabitants of Mesoamerica, pozole was made to be consumed on special events. The conjunction of corn (usually whole hominy kernels) and meat in a single dish is of particular interest to scholars because the ancient Mexicans believed that the gods made humans out of cornmeal dough.

Broiled Salmon

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditional Italian Christmas celebration. Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. However, some Italian-American families have been known to celebrate with nine, eleven or thirteen different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

Latkes

Latkes are a traditional food eaten during Hanukkah. The oil for cooking the latkes is symbolic of the oil from the Hanukkah story that kept the Second Temple of ancient Israel lit with a long-lasting flame that is celebrated as a miracle. The word "latke" itself is derived (via Yiddish) from the Russian/Ukrainian word латка meaning "patch.”

Risotto

Risotto al Natale meaning Christmas Rice in Italian. Is traditionally prepared with seared scallops, red bell peppers and pesto sauce. The invention of Risotto alla Milanese goes back to the year 1574.

The Duomo di Milano, the magnificent Gothic cathedral, was being built, and a young apprentice named Valerius was in charge of staining the decorated glass for the windows.

Brussels sprouts

Brussels Sprouts were cultivated in Belgium in the 1200s. They are a winter vegetable and as such have become a popular holiday tradition in Belgium!

Cheese and Dried Fruit

Italians do desserts for celebration. After dinner, they may have roasted chestnuts, eaten a wedge of cheese or peeled some fruit but they seldom do desserts unless they are celebrating a holiday or a special family commemoration.

Happy Holidays