August 19, 2025

Book Review: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

Book Review: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan (1992) is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative and influential cookbooks on Italian cuisine in the English language. It combines two of her earlier volumes, The Classic Italian Cook Book (1973) and More Classic Italian Cooking (1978). It has shaped how Americans and home cooks worldwide understand authentic Italian food.

Hazan’s writing is precise yet warm. It has a teacher’s clarity and a home cook’s practicality. She emphasizes fresh ingredients, simple preparations, and techniques that highlight natural flavors. Preferring not to mask them with heavy sauces. Her recipes reflect a deep respect for regional traditions while being entirely accessible to the modern kitchen.

One of Hazan’s hallmarks is her insistence on authenticity. There are no shortcuts, no unnecessary embellishments, no concessions. For example, her famous tomato sauce with onion and butter is the epitome of Italian restraint. It is just three ingredients transformed into something transcendent. Hazan’s recipes not only work reliably but also teach the cook why each step matters. It encourages confidence and intuition in the kitchen.

The book is more than a collection of recipes; it is a cultural document. Hazan brings the rhythm of Italian life. Even thirty years after its publication, Essentials remains indispensable for anyone who wants to cook Italian food.

A timeless masterpiece. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking deserves its place on every serious cook’s shelf, right beside Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

A Brief Biography of Marcella Hazan

Marcella Hazan (1924–2013) was born in Cesenatico, a small town on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Trained as a natural sciences teacher, she did not learn to cook until after marrying Victor Hazan. Faced with a lack of authentic Italian food in America, she taught herself to cook the dishes of her homeland.

Her journey as a teacher began with small cooking classes in her Manhattan apartment. Her direct style and uncompromising standards attracted attention. In 1973, she published The Classic Italian Cook Book, which established her reputation in Italian cooking in America. Over the next four decades, she wrote several acclaimed books. All emphasized authenticity, simplicity, and respect for ingredients.

Hazan was known for her forthright opinions. She was famously critical of garlic presses, over-saucing pasta, and American improvisations that strayed from Italian culinary principles. Despite her sternness, she inspired generations of cooks to embrace Italian traditions in their purest form.

She passed away in 2013 at the age of 89, leaving behind a culinary legacy that continues to influence chefs, writers, and home cooks around the world.

Author: Mr. Sam

Filed Under: Cookbooks & Cocktail Books, Italian

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Halloween is one of the most enchanting nights of the year, full of glowing jack-o’-lanterns, playful scares, and creative costumes. Celebrated every October 31st, it’s a time when children race through neighborhoods trick-or-treating, adults gather for costume parties, and homes are decorated with cobwebs, skeletons, and flickering candlelight. But behind all the fun and festivity lies a fascinating history that stretches back thousands of years. The holiday began with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a harvest celebration marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the spirit world grew thin. Ghosts and other supernatural beings were thought to walk among the living. To protect themselves, people lit bonfires, wore disguises to confuse wandering spirits, and left out offerings of food. These traditions were meant to keep danger at bay, while also honoring loved ones who had passed away. As Christianity spread through Europe, the church blended Samhain with its own holy days. November 1st became All Saints’ Day (also called All Hallows’ Day), and October 31st became All Hallows’ Eve, later shortened to Halloween. Over time, the customs grew and shifted. In medieval Europe, people practiced “souling,” where they went door to door, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. This was one of the earliest versions of what we now know as trick-or-treating. When Irish and Scottish immigrants brought these traditions to America in the 1800s, Halloween began to take on its modern form. Pumpkins replaced turnips as the lantern of choice, thanks to their size and abundance. Communities embraced costume parades, neighborhood parties, and eventually candy-giving as central features of the holiday. By the 20th century, Halloween had transformed into the colorful, playful celebration we know today. Now, Halloween is as much about creativity and fun as it is about spookiness. From haunted houses and ghost stories to caramel apples and carved pumpkins, it’s a holiday that mixes mystery with merriment. At its heart, Halloween is about imagination—becoming someone (or something) else for a night, while celebrating the thrill of the eerie and the joy of community.