I’ve been trying to figure out an appropriate way to commemorate Marcella Hazan. Her books have meant so much to me over the years I thought (in true blog style) that I’d either feature a recipe or say how much her style of cooking has taught me and informed what I do every day.
Then, while reading over this blog, trying to get a sense of which recipes, thoughts and musings were in her debt I realized that really, without Marcella’s help, influence and voice inside my head, in my kitchen and on my table there would be no blog.
Grazie Marcella.
Dinner in heaven will be delicious tonight….
I will cook her Pan Roasted Chicken tonight in her honor!
I totally agree….she was the best! The first queen of Italian cooking! Her recipes for bolognese sauce and osso bucco remain the best ever!
Thank you Marcella.
Excellent post Elizabeth.
I have every one of her books after first discovering her in the 70’s. Not knowing she passed away I was planning her chicken fricasee with red cabbage tonight. How apropo.
She has also influenced my cooking. As a young woman I purchased one of her books and I have referred to it frequently over the years.
Grazie Marcella e tante belle cose….
I am truly sad. Marcella Hazan made the world a better place. She turned my underused kitchen into a vibrant place. I knew I could completely depend on her instructions. She taught me about the richness of simplicity. Do you know that the very first thing I replaced after our house was destroyed by fire was “The Essentials of Italian Cooking.” How much of me is filled by her. God Bless Marcella. Thank You always for so so much.
…and where would we be without milk braised pork roast?
I have 2 of her books and they are quite tattered… I enjoy them that way…. Bless you sweet self Marcella xo
Though I have not tried the recipes mentioned, I can say Amen to all the sentiments. While i am downsizing my cookbook library, hers and at least several articles remain!
Elizabeth…your words are a fine tribute to a wonderful person and cook. Isn’t it marvelous that she left something of herself for us to remember her by whenever we cook one of her recipes? Julia Child had that impact as well. Reminds me of people who make music we love and how they will always live on for us in their music. Here’s to Marcella, grazie!
I had not heard of Marcella Hazan until moving to the States over twelve years ago, but noticing her cook books in most new friends’ kitchens {including Pergolaccio!}, I am pretty sure many Italian inspired dinners with friends owed their inspiration to Marcella …
God Bless, you will never be forgotton!
What a lovely tribute to Marcella Hazan…I discovered Marcella Hazan in the 80’s when I got married and had no experience in either cooking or shopping. She has completely dominated my cooking – every time I salt water for pasta I think of her words – “the water should be as salty as the sea..” Her osso bucco remains one of my most requested dishes, 20 odd years after I first made it. This great lady has truly inspired generations of cooks and I for one am indebted to her. Grazie Marcella.
Yes, love her osso bucco. It’s how I first learned to make it.
I live in Sarasota and was blessed to know Marcella. She was a character beyond words. I still have a cherished Baggie of true italian pine nuts she gave me….those they mislabel here as such drove her mad! I keep it in my kitchen as inspiration to keep all of my cooking real. The world is a better place for this woman/teacher’s contribution and yes…she is greatly missed.