Christmas Eve is not for half-measures — and this episode proves it. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon welcome longtime friend and Italian cooking legend Rocco DiSpirito for a loud, nostalgic, seafood-forward celebration of Christmas Eve traditions.
The conversation dives into Feast of the Seven Fishes lore, growing up Italian-American, learning to cook on early Food Network, and why certain dishes are reserved for exactly one night a year. Rocco walks the crew through his family’s iconic blue crab pasta — a slow-simmered, shell-infused sauce that delivers deep ocean flavor without chunks of seafood in sight.
Along the way, the group debates kitchen gadgets that should disappear forever, breaks down holiday hosting nightmares, plays Chew It or Screw It, and shares why Christmas Eve was always the real party. The episode ends with a stunning, old-world fruit and nut table runner — proof that the table itself can be part of the tradition.
This is not weeknight food. This is memory-making food.
👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: www.chewedupshow.com/recipes
⏱️ Timestamps
- 00:00 — Air fryer opinions immediately get dangerous
- 01:45 — Why Christmas Eve was always the real party
- 03:00 — Rocco DiSpirito enters (and the nostalgia hits)
- 08:10 — Breaking down the Feast of the Seven Fishes
- 11:00 — Blushing crab shells = flavor
- 15:20 — Chew It or Screw It: holiday edition
- 21:30 — Deglazing, vermouth, and why heat matters
- 27:40 — Angel hair pasta danger zone
- 31:10 — Why this pasta isn’t about chunks of seafood
- 35:30 — Holiday hosting problem-solving
- 39:00 — Kitchen gadgets that should disappear
- 44:20 — Rocco’s Christmas Eve fruit & nut table runner
- 50:30 — Fan giveaway winner
- 53:00 — Final bites + Christmas wishes
🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
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- https://www.senoritadrinks.com/discount/CHEWEDUP20
- Caraway → Non-toxic cookware with even heating and easy cleanup
- https://carawayhome.com/chewedup
- Canopy by Hilton → A lifestyle hotel brand offering a local-first experience
- https://www.hilton.com/en/canopy
Kitchen Designed by Anthony Carrino
Produced by Simple Alien
Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy
About Chewed Up
Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors.
Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud.
New Episodes Drop 3x a Week:
- Monday – Appetizers
- Wednesday – Mains
- Friday – Desserts
Want to Watch?
- Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3
- YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ChewedUpShow
Want to Listen?
- Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3Z9NDuHH7XP03FXQIhHlQ3
- Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chewed-up/id1840993910
- Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1fc5d229-459b-4334-8970-ce0d6f925982/chewed-up
- RedCircle → https://redcircle.com/shows/c42dbec1-e576-4927-acc7-f22e988c1a81
🎁 Fan Giveaway
Every episode, one lucky subscriber win
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