[rlmorel]

"...anchovy pasta...a staple for Christmas eve..."

LOL...I think if you are a certain type of Italian it is, but for many people, they go "Eeeeew!"

I am not a big fan of it, but my Italian-Armenian mother used to make it and my siblings all liked it. I kind of picked at it, but it didn't make me gag. I just didn't have much enthusiasm for it.

I made it for my wife one time, who adores it, and she told me that's how she KNEW I loved her!

[Revelation 911]

mom used to cook lobster tails, Id cook a prime rib and shes have anchovy pasta.....we'd literally skip the tails and meat for the pasta....its a cultural thing Im sure.....

of course Im into tripe and squid too - both excellent if prepared properly