Noshing Nirvana: Laura Albert's 'dinner to go' chicken pot pie in front of the Advent Wreath

This column is sponsored by Chase Payne Law Firm.

Early one morning this month, my husband and I were walking our dog along Island Park Drive when my husband stopped abruptly in front of Laura Alberts to read their “Dinner to Go” menu. Wow, always fans of Laura Alberts’ lunches, we wondered how we didn’t know that we could order dinner in the morning and pick it up in the evening?

This week I gave it a try. At the beginning of each week, Laura Alberts posts their dinner to go menu on their website (www.lauraalberts.com). On Monday morning I emailed my order for the Chicken Pot Pie for two. Around five o’clock I stopped in and the proprietor, Karen Elsey, gave me my dinner with instructions on how to heat the meal.

Three things left me speechless about this meal. First, I didn’t have to take the time to prepare it. I simply sent an email in the morning and picked it up in the evening. Second, I got to enjoy it in my own home with my husband in front of our Advent candles and Christmas tree.

And, third, being at home with Chicken Pot Pie reminded me of my grandmother. The taste, flavor and consistency were amazing. Combine the down home comfort feeling of Chicken Pot Pie and the loving holiday surroundings of my home with memories of my grandmother– I felt like I was in heaven with her.

I slowly savored the thick stew and the delicate crust of the pie. Simply superb. The crust melted in my mouth and the pie had a wonderful subtle peppery taste combined with the creamy filling of chicken and peas.

My husband is a vegetarian and Karen told me that as long as I let them know in the morning when I order, they can convert the dinner of the day to vegetarian. Since I didn’t ask for the vegetarian meal in advance, luckily for me I get the leftovers for lunch! In fact, the serving portion was billed for two people but it really was enough for three or four people, especially if you pair it with a salad.

I also ordered the Friday meal for four people. I’m looking forward to celebrating my daughter’s college homecoming from Ohio with a fine meal of Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Jasmine Rice and Asparagus … and to lighting the three advent candles of hope, peace and joy with her.

The dinner to go meals range in price depending on the number of people fed (2 or 4) and on the selection. The two person meals for this week ranged from $20-26 dollars and the four person meals ranged from $40-56.

Want to share your tale of noshing nirvana?

It’s simple – just respond to the following or go online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7VNR3ZT to answer the same questions as here:

1) Where were you served the best thing you ate all month?

2) What was the food that left you speechless (mainly because you couldn’t stop horking it down)?

3) Can you describe what made the dish so magical? Be sure to speak slowly...

4) Dish more on the dish, if you can - price, portion size, availability on regular menu, and the psychological repercussions of consuming something so rad.

5) Please email a photo of your to-die-for dish and responses to the four questions above (don’t leave any out!) to sdetar@thedanielislandnews.com.