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 involves locations where people can go to cook according to menus, then take the food home to serve throughout the month. Yes, you’re probably saying “why didn’t I come up with that one”?

People are very busy today. Eating well at home is besoming more and more difficult . Even the terrific pre-made food available today in stores isn’t quite the same as home cooking. But doesn’t something have to give when time is on a budget? This franchise lives in that space.

This is how it functions. Patrons go in and select some or all of 14 meals from a menu. Food is then purchased by serving. Then they cook it while still at the shop. 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.

It’s not as costly as it sounds. Although salads and side dishes are separate, the main course is only about $3.50 per serving for all 14 meals. The cost per serving with the sides is about $5. For food, menu planning, and hands-on meal preparation training and supervision, that’s a steal.

These locations are franchises people own. And there’s been some controversy behind the franchise. The food and menus are fine, but the franchise owners may have a problem. Dream Dinners was profiled in March of ‘08 by Forbes. The story didn’t look good for the company. It expanded very quickly, attracting entrepreneurs with its unique concept. The business plan came into question when many of the franchises went out of business after a short time. The article detailed what was described as misrepresentations of the profit possible, and thus the overall valuation of franchises.

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