medium-sized onion, very finely chopped • medium-sized carrot, very finely chopped • celery stick, very finely chopped • olive oil • garlic clove, very finely chopped • dried chilli, seeded and chopped (optional) • Italian canned plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped • parsley stalks • bay leaf • sugar • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • penne or bucatini (pasta) •