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Daniel Paterna
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Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn Italian's Recipes Celebrating Food and Family Hardcover – Illustrated, November 5, 2019

by Daniel Paterna (Author), Michael Lomonaco (Introduction), John Turturro (Contributor)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 229 ratings
See all formats and editions
Daniel Paterna's Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn-Italian's Recipes Celebrating Food and Family is a timely reminder that a shared memory of food draws upon and enriches our souls.

In Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn Italian's Recipes Celebrating Food and Family, Daniel Paterna takes you on magical journey into a hidden world. Through recipes handed down in his family, stunning photos taken by the author himself, and three-generations of memories, Paterna reveals the soulful, humorous, and always delicious history of Italian-Americans in Brooklyn.

Paterna is the real deal, a second-generation Italian-American, whose family has preserved their culture from the shores of Naples to the streets of Bensonhurst. He'll show you how to make long-forgotten recipes like stuffed calamari and he'll take you to the stores, restaurants, and bakeries where artisans are still doing things the old way.

This is an intensely personal book that powerfully illustrates the essence of the American experience: the ways food, family, and memory are preserved and changed by the immigrants who brought them to our shores, and the children of those immigrants who keepthe flame alive.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    powerHouse Books
  4. Publication date
    November 5, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.5 x 10.63 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1576879151
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1576879153
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This distinctive blend of memoir and cookbook is nostalgia catnip for Italian-Americans." ― Publishers Weekly

"This is a book to be cherished. It may be a love letter to Brooklyn, but every reader will be wrapped in the warmth that rises from each and every page." ― Italian Tribune

"Feast of the Seven Fishes is a mouthwatering trip through south-Brooklyn's Italian kitchens." ― Brooklyn Book Beat

"You'll want to sip prosecco and nibble on antipasti to savor this visual love letter to family, Brooklyn and Italy." ― Ambassador Magazine

Feast of the Seven Fishes is a great pick for those looking for Italian-American recipes and stories of the people behind the food." ― Tara's Multicultural Table

"This is not your traditional cookbook. This is a story about the importance of family and community told through pictures and recipes. Would I recommend this book? Yes, a thousand percent!" ― She Loves Biscotti

"Feast of the Seven Fishes is a delightful tome. It will be appreciated by American readers but equally by overseas booklovers, who will consider this not only a cookbook but also something of a travelogue." ― Mostly Food & Travel Journal

"The book is much more than just recipes for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of the Seven Fishes. It is a wonderful documentary on his family and the shops and vendors he grew up with. A true celebration." ― Divina Cucina

One of Chowhound's "Best New Regional & Cultural Cookbooks for Fall 2019"

"It’s not just a cookbook: It’s as much a memoir and visual history of a changing neighborhood as a series of recipes and kitchen tips. Paterna revels in the sights (he also shot the beautiful images in the book) and smells of an Italian kitchen, passing along anecdotes and personal memories." -- Craig Hubert ― Brownstoner Magazine

“I tried to cook a lot of what my mom cooked. I realized that many of the recipes were not documented, although she was the only family member that did, but they were not documented to the point of translating handfuls to a measurement.” -- Andrew Cotto ― La Cucina Italiana

About the Author

Daniel Paterna has created some of television's most recognizable images; during his career, he has worked with leading content brands including ABC News, AMC, A&E, Disney, ESPN, History, and PBS, earning awards from such institutions as PRINT, Communication Arts, and Promax/International Broadcast Design Association. His design for NBC's coverage of the 1996 Olympics won him an Emmy from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Paterna was born and raised in the house his grandfather built in Brooklyn, graduated from The Pratt Institute with honors in graphic design, and currently heads his own Brooklyn-based design group. His photography has been on display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the 440 Gallery in Brooklyn. A native New Yorker, Chef Michael Lomonaco has spent his career celebrating the bounty of the American table at some of the city's most iconic restaurants including 21, Windows on the World, Wild Blue, and Guastavino's, before opening Porter House in 2006. Lomonaco is also one of the original Food Network and Travel Channel chef personalities with his shows Michael's Place and Epicurious. Fans can still catch him on TV today, as he makes regular appearances on ABC's The Chew, and The Today Show, among others. Along with Porter House Bar and Grill, Michael is the chef and partner of Center Bar, the sophisticated cocktail lounge also located on the 4th floor of the Time Warner Center. John Turturro is an actor and director whose notable film credits include Do the Right Thing,Barton Fink, Quiz Show, The Big Lebowski, The Truce, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Mia Madre. He is the director of six films, including Mac, which was honored with the Camera d'Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, and the upcoming Going Places. On stage, he has appeared in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, for which has was awarded an OBIE, and Italian-American Reconciliation, La Puta Vida, The Bald Soprano, Steel on Steel, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and End Game. Turturro is also known for his television roles on Monk, for which he won an Emmy, and most recently HBO's The Night Of, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG award.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ powerHouse Books; Illustrated edition (November 5, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1576879151
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1576879153
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.8 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.5 x 10.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 229 ratings

About the author

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Daniel Paterna

Daniel Paterna

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As a boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my intimate relationship with the act of seeing had an unlikely beginning. Having had double vision for the first three years of my life, I learned to compensate and intuit depth perception through my then untapped love of light, space and the relationship between objects. It was not until I had struggled at every conventional career I tried, that I finally devoted myself to a passion for the visual image. Being able to slow down and extract a solitary frame of time from a world of visual and emotional complexities helps me order the otherwise overwhelming vastness of life itself.

I was first introduced to the wonders of depth of field while studying photography at City University of New York. Upon graduating from the Pratt Institute with a B.F.A. of Art and Design I embarked on a career path that has brought me the good fortune of receiving some of the design worlds highest honors. Parallel to that I have quietly pursued my love of photography. Selects of my work can be seen at the Museum of Modern Art, in the permanent collection of “This is New York” as well as in the “September 11th Photo Project”, published by Harper Collins and now in a personal photographic culinary memoir published by powerhouse Books in Brooklyn NYC.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
229 global ratings
Celebration of Food and Family
5 Stars
Celebration of Food and Family
I may not be Italian, but I married into an Italian family. Quickly adopting the Bruno family customs and traditions, I find myself very much in love with all things Italian. The Feast of the Seven Fishes completes my cultural cookbook library. I have made several of the recipes as described in the book and have found that the directions are relatively simple to follow. Insalata di Baccala e Peperoni is definitely my favorite dish from the book, and when preparing for the “feast” each year, it is a must! If you love Italian food, traditions, and culture, you need this book.
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Top reviews from the United States

Susan P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
I was born in 1967 & raised in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, NY (what a blessing) and I felt SO INCREDIBLY MOVED by this book. I was smiling and tearing up at the same time reminiscing of Christmas Eves of long ago. These authentic stories truly resonated with me. What a childhood we all had!! So sorely missed but thank goodness for fond memories & now this book. I couldn't wait to dig in deeper & in fact finished this book in a few hours because I could not put it down. Stories so beautifully written, gorgeous photography and fantastic recipes. This will make a great gift for family and friends for sure. Thank you to Mr. Paterna for creating this book, you did a great job. Buon Natale all year through!!!!
2 people found this helpful
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Diana
5.0 out of 5 stars Memories
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2023
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Gifted my twins this book . Brought back wonderful memories. Beautiful photographs and stories
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Jennifer Taranto
5.0 out of 5 stars Family Treasure
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
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I have to say that this book is beautifully written and illustrated. It is a collection of recipes that have been in my family for years. We are a big Italian Family and have many relatives that have owned restaurants and even an Aunt that cooked for Frank Sinatra. The best thing about growing up was watching my relatives cooking these meals and arguing over who made what dish better. It was always a friendly argument and very funny to watch. This book is a true labor of love from our family to yours!
3 people found this helpful
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Sapphire
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just Xmas
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2024
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This book includes Italian recipes and anecdotes for ALL year long not just Xmas! It’s a great cultural reference!
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MATTHEW J PALMER
5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
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Very nice book. fast delivery too.
One person found this helpful
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Adrienne Hughes
4.0 out of 5 stars BK strong 💪
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2020
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Sent as a present from my mother my uncle in Brooklyn and he loved it. Would definitely order for others.
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Genine M. Quaranta
5.0 out of 5 stars Traditions are the gift!
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
I purchased this book last year and I'm glad I did. Daniel brings back so many memories for me living in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn growing up with my family. We all lived together and my Grandmother would teach us all the traditions that are still going strong today with the little ones. Her small tiny hands though aged through the years I can remember her rolling the dough for Struffoli, bread, cakes, and so much more. I can still smell the aromas of past times. They never leave us! Daniel brings this all back with stories from the neighborhood and the stores that still are present till today. I love returning back to my favorite shops it's like I never left. This book is a testament that we all share a commonality and that is tradition. We all are intertwined in our Italian culture and our stories are the same with our families. Grazie millie Daniel for creating this book, sharing your family recipes with us and memories from past times. The gift of life is we have this to share with others and our traditions keep going. Molte Benedizioni! Genine Quaranta
2 people found this helpful
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Misty Bruno
5.0 out of 5 stars Celebration of Food and Family
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
I may not be Italian, but I married into an Italian family. Quickly adopting the Bruno family customs and traditions, I find myself very much in love with all things Italian. The Feast of the Seven Fishes completes my cultural cookbook library. I have made several of the recipes as described in the book and have found that the directions are relatively simple to follow. Insalata di Baccala e Peperoni is definitely my favorite dish from the book, and when preparing for the “feast” each year, it is a must! If you love Italian food, traditions, and culture, you need this book.
Customer image
Misty Bruno
5.0 out of 5 stars Celebration of Food and Family
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
I may not be Italian, but I married into an Italian family. Quickly adopting the Bruno family customs and traditions, I find myself very much in love with all things Italian. The Feast of the Seven Fishes completes my cultural cookbook library. I have made several of the recipes as described in the book and have found that the directions are relatively simple to follow. Insalata di Baccala e Peperoni is definitely my favorite dish from the book, and when preparing for the “feast” each year, it is a must! If you love Italian food, traditions, and culture, you need this book.
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Customer image
Customer image
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Moira
4.0 out of 5 stars A MUST!
Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Beautifully written and photographed. No doubt it will take you back. Gave it 4 stars because it arrived damaged
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