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By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Lots of folks are preparing for their traditional Christmas Eve dinner.   And for many people, especially those who hail from Italy, the traditional Christmas Eve meal is the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

“The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Christmas Eve traditional dinner where only seafood is served,” explains David Boyle, chef at Davio’s restaurant in center city Philadelphia, where steak is normally the spotlighted item on the menu.

He says traditionally in Roman Catholic and Italian households, no meat is eaten on holy days.

“The poorer families would use bakala and the richer families would have eel, so it depends on where your families come from, what sort of traditions you get set up with here in America.”

Hear Hadas Kuznits’ interview with Chef David Boyle in this CBS Philly podcast…

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So how does he juggle cooking seven types of fish in one meal?

“There’s a fine line when you’re doing any type of seafood, and it just comes with practice.  The key is, just keep trying it again.”

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