I had dinner with Marcella Hazan's husband Victor last night. Since her death, he's kept up her Facebook page and it is one of the most glorious things I read on the internet.
Marcella was working on a book when she died. Eventually, Victor picked it up and finished writing it. She wrote in Italian, longhand, on yellow legal pads, "usually in red ink." It was too emotional to go through those notes. At some point, he thought to himself about how selfish he was with his grief. ('Selfish' was his word.) He contacted her editor and agreed to send her translations every Monday.
Over an intimate dinner, with the sun setting and a view of the lake, Victor sat across from me. The former owner of Sur La Table to my right, and his editor from New York on my left. He regaled stories about Marcella's 80th birthday party they had in Italy. He sent invitations to people from the United States, Australia, etc. She chided him, "Who's going to come to Italy for my party?" They thought maybe 20 people would come, but everyone RSVP'd. They had 80 guests dressed in ball gowns at a villa, and served the meal in stages. Procuitto as they crossed a bridge, drinks on the lawn with passed apps, dinner in the main house, and an exquisite cheese station with "the rarest cheeses you can find." To drive his point home, he said, "I don't want to talk about money, but the cheese station alone cost $100 per person." He stroked his stubbled face and said, "It was a lovely party."
And now, he carries on her legacy.
My favorite part of the dinner, they recalled the night before when someone asked, "What is the most romantic meal to cook?"
He explained, "In relationships, romance comes and goes, but every night, you cook." Making the meal, you demonstrate your love every day.
The article at the link is terrific and discusses the new book.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/73e7d2d4f7ec4619b1c2c08f669ec01d/ingredienti-victor-hazan-channels-late-wife-marcella
Marcella was working on a book when she died. Eventually, Victor picked it up and finished writing it. She wrote in Italian, longhand, on yellow legal pads, "usually in red ink." It was too emotional to go through those notes. At some point, he thought to himself about how selfish he was with his grief. ('Selfish' was his word.) He contacted her editor and agreed to send her translations every Monday.
Over an intimate dinner, with the sun setting and a view of the lake, Victor sat across from me. The former owner of Sur La Table to my right, and his editor from New York on my left. He regaled stories about Marcella's 80th birthday party they had in Italy. He sent invitations to people from the United States, Australia, etc. She chided him, "Who's going to come to Italy for my party?" They thought maybe 20 people would come, but everyone RSVP'd. They had 80 guests dressed in ball gowns at a villa, and served the meal in stages. Procuitto as they crossed a bridge, drinks on the lawn with passed apps, dinner in the main house, and an exquisite cheese station with "the rarest cheeses you can find." To drive his point home, he said, "I don't want to talk about money, but the cheese station alone cost $100 per person." He stroked his stubbled face and said, "It was a lovely party."
And now, he carries on her legacy.
My favorite part of the dinner, they recalled the night before when someone asked, "What is the most romantic meal to cook?"
He explained, "In relationships, romance comes and goes, but every night, you cook." Making the meal, you demonstrate your love every day.
The article at the link is terrific and discusses the new book.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/73e7d2d4f7ec4619b1c2c08f669ec01d/ingredienti-victor-hazan-channels-late-wife-marcella