To some folks a dream dinner might be any decent food they can get for free. Dream Dinners is also a clever food franchise that’s growing fast. It’s all about people cooking under supervision according to planned menus. It’s one of those ideas that has people slapping their foreheads while exclaiming “why didn’t I think of that”?

Americans are busier than ever before. Home cooked meals are becoming extinct . Frozen foods and pre-packaged meals are fine, but just not the same. When the schedule is packed, however, will people give up their jobs or their self made meals? This franchise lives in that space.

The program works like this. Patrons go in and select some or all of 14 meals from a menu. Food is then purchased by serving. Then the consumers cook the meals, at the store. Most creative cooking experts supervise in either private or public cooking sessions. It’s as if a cooking show host steps out of the television to show people how to make the meal.

The meals are a lot less expensive than it would appear when the concept is first described. The more people buy the more they save, so all 14 meals are about $3.50 per serving not counting sides and other items like salads. A total of about $5 per serving isn’t a bad price to pay for a good meal. Not only are the meals provided, but the family can enjoy the cooking experience in a setting where it’s ensured that they’ll prepare the meals the right way.

Remember, these are franchises. There has been some tension. It’s not the food or menus or preparation, but rather the franchiseesSome of the franchisees aren’t happy. Dream Dinners was profiled in March of ‘08 by Forbes. The story didn’t look good for the company. The new concept quickly gained popularity and attracted would be business owners. But it seems the business plan wasn’t strong, as many of these people found themselves unable to continue the business after a short time and a lot of investment. The article detailed what was described as misrepresentations of the profit possible, and thus the overall valuation of franchises.

Business controversy aside, Dream Dinners is a wonderful concept that allows busy people living the 21st century fast-paced life a way to return to some of the home spun food value of the past decades.

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