7x7 asks the city's chefs for the recipes to their most loved cocktails, bar snacks, starters, mains, and desserts. If there's a dish you can't stop thinking about and want to make at home, email lauren@hartlemedia.com. Your wish may end up on the blog, along with the actual recipe from the chef.

At Beretta, antipasto like chef Ruggero Gadaldi's light and nutty caponatina whets the appetite before the heart of a meal (pizza) arrives. Serve it warm or cold on a platter with a couple of spoons and toasted bread at your upcoming holiday party. Or keep it all to yourself.

Serves 4 - 6

4 medium-size Japanese eggplants

1 stalk celery

½ basket cherry tomatoes

1 tablespoonchopped fresh basil

1 tablespoon capers

2 tablespooonschopped Sicilian green olives

1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts

2 tablespoonswhite balsamic vinegar

1. Peel eggplant leaving some stripes, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Season with salt. Let them sit for 12 hours, and then dry pat them with a towel. Fry (preferrably deep-fry) the eggplant, remove, and let cool.

2. Cut celery into 1/3-inch cubes, and blanch for 2 minutes in boiling salted water. Strain and cool under running water. Strain again.

3. Toss eggplant, celery, tomato, basil, capers, green olives, pine nuts, and white balsamic vinegar. Season to taste and serve.