Dream Dinners/Super Suppers

[RedBedHead]

Has anyone ever done one of these? I'm interested in trying it out just to have a few things in the freezer but I really value your advice. So, what are your thoughts?

 

[GB]

I looked into buying one of the franchises, but I have never actually used the service. I decided the franchise was not for me. I think the concept is great though.

 

[BigDog]

Never heard of 'em. What are they?

 

[urmaniac13]

I had no idea either, so I googled and found this... now I have to go to the gym but sounds interesting, I need to take a closer look later....

 

[Foodfiend]

Here's the super suppers web-site for those who are interested.

Super Suppers

 

[rickell]

I bought a gift certificate for my parents for christmas they
have not used it yet. hope it is good.

 

[Caine]

Picture this: You go to a local restaurant, order food to go, then you go into the kitchen and package it up yourself.

 

[licia]

My sister has done that, but I didn't remember what she called it. I don't believe she is doing it now, but I don't remember why not.

 

[GB]

Picture this: You go to a local restaurant, order food to go, then you go into the kitchen and package it up yourself.

Actually this is not quite right. By this example, the food is already cooked, but with these dream dinners and other places the food is not cooked. You bring it home and cook it when you want.

 

[Toots]

I looked into Dream Dinners last summer when I was going crazy at work and tired of pizzas and take out chinese. I just wanted to have some meals in the freezer that were kind of healthy. In the end, I didn't do it because at the time I thought it was kind of expensive and labor intensive for what you paid for.

I love to cook my own dinners but sometimes I am pressed for time. I think if I had a bigger family I would try it.

 

[texasgirl]

It is a very interesting idea, but, too expensive for my taste. I do like the concept of someone doing the menu and putting it all together so that all I have to do is cook it, but, I'm not going to pay $110 for 6 entrees.

 

[Caine]

Actually this is not quite right. By this example, the food is already cooked, but with these dream dinners and other places the food is not cooked. You bring it home and cook it when you want.

Read it again. You bring it home and HEAT IT UP when you want. The pacakged food is already cooked, whetehr they give it to you already cooked or you cook it at their location depends on the facility, but what you bring home and freeze is a fully cooked meal.

 

[GB]

If you are talking about dream dinner Caine then I am sorry, but you are wrong. I did a lot of research on them when I was considering buying a store. All the ingredients are raw. There are no cooking facilities there. You package up your food and bring it home raw to cook yourself.

 

[licia]

That must not be the same thing my sister was doing. Her meals were cooked in quantity and prepared for the freezer. I think they did about 5 or 6 different menus and a quantity of each. She was very satisfied with the quality of the food. She did have a problem making room in her freezer for all the packages.

 

[RedBedHead]

From what I have read some of the meals are cooked and some are raw. I wouldn't want to cook a steak there and warm it up later at home KWIM? I think that many of the meals are partially cooked, for example, with a pasta dish the sauce would be cooked but the pasta wouldn't be.
I'm going to look into it a little more before I decide to do it.

 

[RedBedHead]

I stand corrected. I just watched their video and GB is totally right. It is all prep, no cooking involved. I'm rethinking this now.

 

[mudbug]

We have something similar in my area called Lets Dish (Let's Dish!), along with Dream Dinners and some others.

My boss has been several times and raves. Her only objection is that the portions are too large for just her and her young daughter. All food is raw to be cooked at home. Basically you just assemble the packages with pre-measured ingredients.

Spending a Sat. morning assembling the goodies for a bunch of meals does not sound like a total waste of time to me. Didn't Jeff Smith (the Frugal Gourmet) recommend this years ago?

 

[licia]

In the case of the food being raw, why not just make those foods at home and prepare for freezer? I don't see much of a time savings in that. A friend and I thought about opening a place similar to a takeout deli, but making homestyle dishes to order. It was a good idea, but I'm glad we didn't do it since she didn't turn out to be such a dependable person. I probably would have had to do all the work.

 

[GB]

Licia, all the prep work is done. Everything is cleaned and cut the way it is supposed to be. This type of service is aimed at families who do not have a lot of time, or cooking knowledge. The recipes are done for them. The prep work is done for them. The planning is done for them. All they need to do is package things up and then bring it home. When it is time for a meal they pull it out of the freezer and stick it in the oven. For someone who does not know how to cook, does not have time to do prep work, does not have the inclination to search out recipes that they would like, this can be a huge convenience.

 

[rickell]

When I bought the gift certificate I visited the place. The food is not
cooked all the prep work was done, you assemble and freeze the meals
and cook them when you want. All the mess is left there for them to clean up. The place was very clean and seems like a great idea.

I will let you know what my folks think once they try it.