The retro dinner dish that has become the ultimate romantic gesture
Chicken pot pie is enjoying a much-deserved moment. The hearty, retro dinner dish has recently gained popularity, thanks to the charming Netflix rom-com Voicemails For Isabelle.
In a romantic scene involving two key characters, Jill, who is a pastry chef, makes Wes a chicken pot pie with a cornbread crust, having remembered him mentioning it was a dish his late mother used to make for him.
Chicken pot pie is having a moment in the spotlight thanks to a new rom-com. iStock
Wes had shared that his mother died when he was young, and hadn’t passed on the recipe. He is visibly moved when Jill serves up the dish and when he takes his first bite, you can see a wave of emotion pass across his face. He is truly, truly moved, and very much in love with her.
The characters’ relationship following this moment faces unique challenges, but Jill’s thoughtful gesture is significant – and has put chicken pot pie in the spotlight.
To mark this delicious resurgence, we asked some of Australia’s best cooks to share their pot pie recipes – and the significant dish they make for their partners.
The dish features in a key scene of the Netflix movie Voicemails For Isabelle. Netflix
Jane de Graaff
“Chicken pot pie is really heartening and warming,” Today food expert Jane de Graff told nine.com.au.
Her own recipe uses a traditional pastry topping, and the filling is a simple as it gets.
“All you do is cook down some onions until they’re nice and soft, then you add whatever chicken you’ve got. Chicken tenders and diced chicken are great,” de Graaff said.
Jane de Graaff’s chicken pot pie filling is a simple as it gets. Jane de Graaff
“Brown it in the same pan as the onions, and then you add your veggies. That could be diced celery, carrots, potatoes, it could be corn if that’s what you’ve got.
“You can pretty much use whatever veggies you’ve got, just diced nice and small so they’ll cook when the pie goes into the oven.”
You then add gravy, which de Graaff said can be made using chicken stock and corn flour, added to the chicken and vegetables in the same pot.
“You pour that over the top, bring it to a simmer so it starts to thicken, and once you’re done you take it off the stove top, put a sheet of puff pastry over the top, and pop it in the oven at 180 degrees for half an hour until the pastry is all puffed and crispy and golden.”
Everything is done in one pot. Once cooked, it can be served immediately or left to rest if a thicker filling is desired. See her full Chicken Pot Pie recipe here.
“You can pretty much use whatever veggies you’ve got.” Jane de Graaff
Options for pot pie toppings include puff pastry, corn bread topping, potato, or even with a layer of potato gems, she explains.
de Graaff’s ultimate romantic gesture meal for her husband is Greek salad, or scrambled eggs on toast.
“Because I cook for a living and I tend to get a bit carried away, when I cook something really simple, he knows its because I was thinking of him.”
Options for toppings include puff pastry, corn bread topping, potato, or even a layer of potato gems. iStock
Steph de Sousa
Chef and author Steph de Sousa loves chicken pot pie because it is a “proper comfort food”.
“It’s creamy, hearty and packed with flavour, but it’s also a fantastic way to use up whatever you’ve already got in the fridge. It’s one of those meals that feels like you’ve put in a lot more effort than you actually have, and everyone around the table is happy,” she told nine.com.au.
Steph de Sousa calls chicken pot pie a ‘proper comfort food’. Steph de Sousa
She said the biggest trick is “not to overcomplicate it”.
“Use a cooked chicken, like a supermarket roast chicken or leftover roast, make a simple creamy filling, and let the pastry do the hard work.
“Another trick is to let the filling cool slightly before adding the pastry. If the filling is boiling hot, the pastry can become soggy. And always give the pastry an egg wash if you want that beautiful golden finish.”
The chef and author advises letting your filling cool slightly before adding the pastry. Aldi/Steph de Sousa
Her own recipe includes onion, garlic, vegetables, flour, chicken stock and a little cream or milk as well as shredded cooked chicken. You can view her full recipe here.
de Sousa, who has recently launched a range of cookware with Aldi recommends, the ALDI x Steph Cooks Stuff One Pot for this dish.
She said cooking her husband a simple dish is her ultimate romantic gesture in a meal.
“Honestly, I’d skip anything too fancy and make something that means something to us,” she said.
“Food is so tied to memories, so I’d choose one of the meals we’ve loved over the years rather than something complicated.
“For me, romance isn’t about expensive ingredients or restaurant-style plating. It’s about making someone feel cared for, sitting down together without rushing, and sharing a meal you’ve cooked with love.”
Curtis Stone
Celebrity chef Curtis Stone has always been a huge fan of chicken pot pie.
“What’s not to love? It’s like a big hug in a pot,” the told nine.com.au.
“A humble, comforting dish that’s so delicious, so easy, and never disappoints. A bit like a best friend really!”
Curtis Stone’s chicken pot pie uses onions, potatoes, carrots, celery and a turnip. Coles/Curtis Stone
He said the best part about chicken pot pie is that you can create so many different variations using whatever you have in the fridge.
“It’s a great way to use up leftover vegetables, and if you’re short on time, a Coles hot roast chicken is the perfect shortcut.”
“I also love that you can make the pot pie ahead of time and simply heat it when you’re ready to serve, making it ideal for busy weeknights or entertaining.
“One of my best tips is to let the chicken filling cool completely before adding the pastry. Topping a cooled filling with cold puff pastry is the secret to achieving a beautifully risen, crisp, golden crust.
“And for an extra impressive finish, I always double up the puff pastry for even more puff!” You can view his full recipe here.
“A humble, comforting dish that’s so delicious, so easy, and never disappoints.” Coles/Curtis Stone
When preparing a romantic gesture for his wife with food, Stone said he’ll do something that “takes a little more time, like homemade pasta, so she knows I’ve really put the effort in”.
“Over the years, I’ve cooked a few romantic dishes for my beautiful wife. On one of our first dates, I made her a decadent chocolate and whisky mousse. She’d mentioned that she liked whisky, which I thought was incredibly cool, so I wanted to create something thoughtful and a little different.
“I also surprised her by making our wedding cake, a carrot cake, which is her absolute favourite. It was a labour of love, and seeing how much it meant to her made all the effort worthwhile.”
