Upcoming book alert: Marcella Hazan's memoir, "Amarcord"

[buttertart]

Due out 10/7, absolutely cannot wait!

[MMRuth]

There's an article about the Hazans and the book in the NYT today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/din...

[dishlicious]

For anyone in the Boston Area — BU is hosting an evening with Marcella. I just got tickets for myself and my Mom, what a treat! Description and link below. I called, and it's limited to 50. So hurry if you're interested.

As far as her books, "Essentials" is hands down the definitive on italian cooking. The only book that properly describes/illustrates rolling pasta. Like watching my Noni in action!

Amarcord, "I Remember": A Celebration of the Life and Food of Marcella Hazan

Join Hazan for a very special evening in which she discusses her life and autobiography, Amarcord—including stories of her immigration to America, meeting food writer and critic Craig Claiborne, and becoming one of America’s foremost authorities on Italian food. As if this weren’t enough, participants will enjoy a dinner of Hazan’s recipes as prepared by Rich Barron of the famed Waltham restaurant Il Capriccio, along with Italian wines introduced by Victor Hazan—wine expert and husband of Marcella—and Il Capriccio’s sommelier Jeannie Rogers.

http://www.bu.edu/foodandwine/seminar...

[vvvindaloo]

Thanks for the heads-up, butter.
To answer jmckee, I think Essentials is probably the best one to have, if you must choose only one.
However, I am a big fan of Marcella Says as well as Marcella Cucina...

[jmckee]

I am embarrassed to admit that none of her cooking tomes has made it into my library yet. What would be the best single one to have?

[lanersg]

My favorite is her Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking as I use it more often than her others, but honestly, any of her cookbooks would be a great addition to a library.

[SharaMcG]

I've had this one for years. It's my favorite and not just for the recipes: Hazan is a wonderful storyteller. I can't wait to read Amarcord; I'm sure it'll be entertaining and really informative.

[buttertart]

Marcella's Italian Kitchen is the most useful of her books in my opinion (harp, harp). It's not dauntingly long, the recipes are superb, and it's a nice introduction to her style and voice. I met her once very briefly at a Fancy Food Show and told her I loved the book - that everything I made from it was delicious - and she said (great husky cigs and whisky voice) "thank you darling, that gives me heart to write a new book...". My cooking heroine!

[alkapal]

i know fellini's film amarcord. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...
this review by roger ebert notes that amarcord translates as "i remember" in rimini dialect.

[Kitt]

You won't be disappointed. I'm about a third of the way through and really enjoying it. She has a good story, and it's well-written.

[LindaWhit]

If it's due out on October 7th, how are you reading it now?

http://www.amazon.com/Amarcord-Marcel...

[buttertart]

Yeah, my question exactly! I'm jealous.

[Kitt]

A friend who knows I like foodie memoirs slipped me an advance copy. I've posted a partial review here:

http://kittbo.blogspot.com/2008/07/wh...

I'm reading it as slowly as possible to prolong the pleasure. It's quite good.

[LindaWhit]

Lucky you! (And is that YOUR house in the pic to the right of your blog? If so - WOW!)

[Kitt]

Thanks! Yep, that's my house. I'm wowed by it, too, even after a year. Particularly because the kitchen is three, no, four times the size of my old one, and had room to build in a floor-to-ceiling bookcase for all my cookbooks. Surprisingly, I do not have any of Marcella Hazan's yet, but after reading her memoir, I will certainly be picking up her "Essentials," which is an expanded version of her first book.

The story of how that book got published is fascinating, too. It almost withered on the vine, until some chance introductions changed her life.