A dream dinner may bring to mind a free steak for some people. Dream Dinners is also a quickly rising food franchise business. It involves locations where people can go to cook according to menus, then take the food home to serve throughout the month. 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. Work and school and a variety of other activities for family members mean it’s harder than ever to eat well . 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? That’s where this franchise steps into the picture.

It works something like this. Patrons go in and select some or all of 14 meals from a menu. Number of servings determines cost of each meal. Now while still at the store, they cook. This can be accomplished either in public or private sessions, with creative cooking pros directing the preparation action. It’s as if a cooking show host steps out of the television to show people how to make the meal.

It sounds a lot more expensive that it really is. A 14 item menu costs about $3.50 per serving, with side dishes and extras like salads and potatoes purchased separately. This can bring the cost per serving for a complete meal up to around the $5 mark, but for a busy working family it’s not bad. 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. And there’s been some controversy behind the franchise. The food and menus are fine, but the franchise owners may have a problem. Forbes Magazine profiled Dream Dinners in March 2008. The company didn’t look very good in the article. Franchisees flocked to this brand new idea. 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. There may have been some misrepresentations made as to potential profits.

Let the franchisees and the company worry about the controversy, for the diner Dream Dinners is just what the chef ordered.

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