From Their Hands to Yours
Stories from the Market
Comfort Food Starts with Orazio’s Pot Pie
Welcome, November! October’s riot of color fades into calm. The trees let go, the air cools, and cozy sweaters, hot cocoa and comfort food take center stage.
Comfort and November naturally go hand in hand. Thanksgiving, after all, is about comfort and gratitude — both best served warm. To kick off our comfort food series, we’re spotlighting Orazio’s Family Dinners and their signature Chicken Pot Pie, a version of the 300-year-old New England favorite.
Orazio’s Family Dinners is a family-run catering service whose mission is simple: bring the warmth of home-cooked meals to busy families who still love to gather around the table. Every dish is crafted to nourish, comfort and connect.
Their chicken pot pie is packed with tender chicken, sweet corn, carrots, green beans, peas, and hearty potatoes — all simmered in a savory roux and tucked into a golden double crust. It’s ready to bake, making it the perfect weeknight meal when you want comfort without the effort. (Hint: thaw overnight, remove the covering and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for about 45 minutes [add 15–20 minutes if frozen] until golden brown. Let rest five minutes before serving.)
Available in both 9-inch family size and 6-inch singles (a hit with the young’uns), with a gluten-free 9-inch option as well.
Pair your pie with a fall salad featuring dark greens from our farm vendors, nuts from Anderson Mini Maples, berries, and mushrooms from Joyberry Farms. Add cheese from Abbot Hill Farm and finish with a baguette from Woodman’s Artisan Bakery and Brookford Farm’s cultured butter — an easy fall dinner with plenty of local love.
And for dessert? Orazio’s Sweet Apple Pie is filled with cinnamon-sugar apples baked in a buttery, cakelike batter. Their seasonal Pumpkin Spice Sweet Apple Pie (October–November) and Blissful Blueberry Pie (still available) are equally irresistible. Serve cold or at room temperature with whipped cream or ice cream.
We caught up with the family behind the pies to learn more about their story and their love of feeding others.
Meet the Orazio Family
What made you choose chicken pot pie as your signature dish?
As a family man, Orazio knows how busy life can get — long workdays, soccer practice and still making dinner. He wanted to create something that made life easier for families like his: a comforting, home-style meal that could go from freezer to table with minimal effort.
The original delicious recipe came from his mom. During COVID, as food prices soared, Orazio spent months perfecting an affordable version with his own flaky double crust and a perfectly balanced roux. Orazio has his dad’s meticulous way of turning food into PERFECTION. Hence the crimping of each pie.
How did it become a family business?
Family is at the center of everything they do. Orazio and his high school sweetheart, Heather, share a love for good food, tradition, and hard work. Their daughters — Adriana, Lily and Julia — help out alongside grandparents Maria and Tony, newphew Luca and a team of family and friends behind the scenes.
If you’ve seen their booth at the market, you’ve likely met part of the crew: Adriana runs the register; Lily, Julia and Luca handle samples; Maria and Tony fill orders; Seb, Joyce, Louie, Lisa and Jadyne help with setup; and Alex manages the site when he is available. Orazio and Heather work their magic in the kitchen.
If you have been on their Facebook page or Instagram page orazios_family_dinners you will get a sense of all the support behind the scenes. This love and support is what makes this journey so much fun and Orazio and Heather appreciate it all!!!
Orazio credits Neelima of Creative Chef Kitchens in Derry, NH, for helping make his dream a reality. Her shared kitchen space is where his recipes come to life.
Lastly, The Farmers Market is the home we are lucky to have found. Our customers seem to enjoy visiting us, and we’re thrilled to share our passion and pies with them each week.
Why “Family Dinners”?
For Orazio, everything starts around the dinner table with his most cherished moments with the people that mean the most. It’s where laughter, stories, and memories are shared — the heart of family life. He hopes every meal he makes brings that same warmth and connection to others.
Are your ingredients locally sourced?
Whenever possible, fruit and produce are sourced from local farms — and every dish is made with a little love and a lot of “thyme.”
Is your crust made from scratch?
Yes! After plenty of trial and error, Orazio perfected a from-scratch crust that’s flaky and flavorful — the perfect complement to his rich filling.
Tell us about your dessert pies.
Another family favorite, the Sweet Apple Pie, is baked with a thick, cakelike batter. Orazio loves to experiment with flavors — from Peach to Blissful Blueberry (with a hint of lemon) offered when the berries are just right.
Favorite side dish for the chicken pot pie?
Orazio laughs, “No sides — it just makes room for another slice of pot pie.”
Favorite way to enjoy dessert?
Orazio: “Cold with coffee.”
Heather: “Warm with ice cream.”
What’s on tap for the holidays?
Look for Warm Chicken Pot Pie in a Cup at the Market on Sundays! You can also place orders on oraziosfamilydinner.com through April. Order by Wednesday night for Friday delivery (4–8 p.m.) in Andover, Dracut, Haverhill, Groveland, Lawrence, Methuen, North Andover, Lowell, Tewksbury, Salem, and Plaistow.
Use code lovepies for free delivery on orders $50+.
To order a gluten-sensitive pie for Farmers Market pickup:
📧 Email oraziosfamilydinners@gmail.com by Tuesday.
Include your name, phone number and preferred pickup time.