Marcella Hazan Lives On Through Her Legacy, And Her Legendary Sauce

I grew up in a French-focused kitchen. My mom was a CIA-trained chef, immersed in the classic techniques of France. When my parents divorced, my father briefly moved to Paris, and I spent summers learning to love moules marinières and saumon à la provençale. Julia Child was right up there with Big Bird in terms of my childhood heroes, so for me, nothing could top her French cuisine — that is, until I made Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce.

Marcella Hazan, considered the 20th-century godmother of Italian cooking, passed away yesterday, at the age of 89. Born in Cesenatico, a port town on the Adriatic coast of Italy, she focused her studies on biology and natural sciences. Hazan never cooked until she was married to Victor Hazan — her loving husband, who "could deal cheerfully with most of life's ups and downs, but not with an indifferent meal." The couple moved to New York, and Hazan found herself recapturing flavors of her home country, using only her sharp palate and memory. Discovering her own innate talent, she plunged into the industry, which welcomed her genius with open, excited arms. What started as informal classes taught in her apartment kitchen, became contributions to The New York Times, a heap of culinary awards, and, of course, her legendary cookbooks.

Her recipes are renowned for their tradition and simplicity — and firm instructions. While one beloved recipe involves just two lemons and a chicken, you'd better follow directions. While working from one of her cookbooks, one feels the presence of a no-nonsense, little-bit-bossy aunt looking over one's shoulder. Did you really level off that tablespoon of flour, or did you just eyeball it?, you imagine her asking. Well, do what you want – it's your piccata.

I'm quite ashamed to say, I only heard Hazan's name for the first time this last year, when rumors of an insane tomato sauce were whipping around the Internet. Allegedly, it consisted only of tomatoes, onion, and butter. I had my doubts, but then again — how could you go wrong with a shopping list like that? I set to work with this one-pot wonder on a Sunday afternoon. An hour later, I was eating it straight off the stove. This was "The One." I would find Marcella and make her mine. If not, I would simply propose to this pot of tomato sauce and live happily ever after.

A few weeks ago, I took the plunge and plonked down $35 for my own copy of Marcella's The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. French might be my first love, but I was tumbling headfirst into an amorous affair with Italy, its food, its flavors, and its aromatic, tomato-red heart. I cracked the spine and started reading with a passion I haven't felt since Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince. The technique descriptions and ingredient lists fell into my head like poetry. It was like walking into this woman's kitchen, filled with the scent of caramelizing onions on a rainy, Roman afternoon.

Hazan is gone, and the world has lost a voice and a talent such as it will never find again. There will only be one of her kind. To our great delight, however, we will always have her food. Kitchen novices: listen up. If you live in fear of having to use your stove, let Hazan show you how. She'll walk you through, step by step, telling you just how long to stir, and the very minute to add more salt. She'll take two lemons and a chicken, and give you the greatest meal of your life. Whether we're cooks, eaters, or just human beings — we should all know how to make the foods in our world sing like this. And, we should all try this tomato sauce.

Directions: Put the tomatoes in a saucepan, add the butter, onion, and salt, and cook uncovered at a very slow, but steady simmer for about 45 minutes, or until it is thickened to your liking and the fat floats free from the tomato.

Stir from time to time, mashing up any large pieces of tomato with the back of a wooden spoon. Taste and correct for salt.

Discard the onion before tossing with pasta. Serve with freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese for the table.