Do YOU Eat Dream Dinners?

Sometimes customers ask us, "Do YOU eat Dream Dinners?"

That's an interesting question. Of course we do!

Before I even ventured into this business, my husband and I were devoted customers. My brother Frank and I live, run and breathe Dream Dinners. We have direct access to the ingredients, so why wouldn't we? And with so little time to cook, Dream Dinners meals are so easy!

Dream Dinners allows me to try food that I normally would not make at home myself. For example, I'm not usually a huge fan of Gorgonzola cheese, but those Gorgonzola Burgers this month are delicious!

If you're curious about how Dream Dinners San Bruno got started, click here to Read our story!

Trevor is walking!

Some of our first Dream Dinners customers knew me when I was only three months pregnant with Trevor. Now, he is already almost 15 months! He is walking so fast and climbing on things that I can hardly keep up. Am I really that old or is really that full of young energy? I'm taking him to CCSF's Child Observation class in the morning to let out some of that energy!

Back-to-School Open House

Save the Date!
Saturday, September 13th
11am to 2pm
Dream Dinners - Bayhill Shopping Center

Join us for our Back-to-School and Dream Rewards Launch Open House!

* Get in Gear for School with Dream Dinners. We will launch our Dream Dinners Back-to-School Fundraising Campaign! Find out how you can earn money for your school!

* Earn Loyalty Rewards with Dream Dinners! The more you visit Dream Dinners, the more rewards you earn. Come to our Open House and find out how!

Tell your friends and neighbors. We hope to see you soon!

Please contact us at (650) 872-0683 or bayhillshoppingctrca@dreamdinners.com for more information.

Bay Area Business Woman

Congratulations to Karen for her feature article in Bay Area Business Woman!

Karen Liu and Dream Dinners were recently featured in an article in Bay Area Business Woman. We are so proud of her for her accomplishment - educating new customers about all the time saving and stress relieving benefits of Dream Dinners!

Click here to see full article:

Dream Dinners vs. DIY

With so many people concerned about the rising food prices, I was curious about how much our dinners cost in comparison to buying the ingredients at a major supermarket. So, I recently conducted some research and did price comparisons on a few Dream Dinners from the July menu. Here are the results:

Coconut Shrimp (Comparison #1)

Panko Bread Crumb $2.39
Coconut Shredded $2.00
Corn Starch $1.49
Egg Liquid $4.00
Flour $2.50
Buttermilk $1.19
Diced Pepper Red $2.89
Baking Powder $1.55
Chili Sauce $2.32
Sweet & Sour Sauce $1.49
Shrimp $14.98
Chili Powder $2.09
Cayenne Pepper $0.99

Total Cost at Safeway*: $39.88
Total Cost at Dream Dinners: $29.00

Emeril's Fish Provencal (Comparison #2)

Cod (1.5 lb) $9.99
Italian Seasoning $3.99
Chili Flakes $5.75
Tarragon $3.99
Fresh Lemon $1.50
Olive Oil $7.99
Chopped Garlic in water $4.99
Diced Onion $0.74
Zucchini (Fresh 3 whole) $1.86
Diced Tomatoes $1.95

Total Cost at Safeway*: $42.75
Total Cost at Dream Dinners: $31.00

*The lowest possible cost was used in this research. Dream Dinners on average costs 27% less than buying our own ingredients at the supermarket. And we may end up tossing out the spoiled unused ingredients. That's like throwing money down the drain...we don't want to do that!

Even if we assume that we have some of the basic ingredients in our pantry, Dream Dinners still costs less and we haven't even considered the time saved!

Corporate Events at Dream Dinners

Dream Dinners can be a fun and unique way for companies to sponsor Team Building events. Imagine wearing an apron and making Chicken Paella or BBQ Shrimp next to your colleague or boss!

We provide appetizers, refreshments and desserts while you assemble a set of wonderful dinners to take home. In contrast to going to a restaurant/bar for dinner, at the end of the event, you still get to take home MORE food. What a great deal!

Here are some photos and testimonials of recent groups who have visited Dream Dinners for company sponsored Team Building events:

Thank you for a great afternoon! It was much needed by our team and they were thrilled to have done something fun for themselves as well as for their families! - B. Nicolai

We had a wonderful time at Dream Dinners and the team really enjoyed it. Thanks for being so accommodating with our needs and requests. All the feedback was nothing but positive. One team member wrote “that her whole entire family benefited and her picky eater kids loved the meals”. One other mentioned “that they could not wait to go home and prepare the meals, cause all the work was already done.” - M. Douglas





If you or your company would like to host a private party/Team Building event at Dream Dinners, contact us at (650) 872-0683 or bayhillshoppingctrca@dreamdinners.com for more information.

Thank you for the feedback

Recently, we sent out a survey to our customers (those who have not visited recently for any reason) asking them for feedback on their overall Dream Dinners experience. We are so happy to know that we received an "Excellent" rating for 84% of all responses and "Good" for 15% of total responses. That means 99% of those who responded gave us positive feedback! Dream Dinners strives to provide excellent customer service and that is what our customers are saying. At least Frank and I don't have to take it personal.

Saved time, relieving dinner time stress of "What's for dinner?" and "it's easy to cook dinner now" were ranked as the primary reasons for how Dream Dinners has added value to our guests.

89% of respondents would highly recommend or likely recommend our services to a friend.
95% of respondents rated our ease of cooking instructions as good or excellent.
72% of respondents rated our food quality as either good or excellent.
71% of respondents rated our menu selection as good or excellent.
83% of respondents rated our session availability as good or excellent.

Thank you to those who responded. We are working to increase overall customer satisfaction. Trust us that we are listening and working to better serve your needs. We greatly appreciate your time.

Frozen Food Myths

Sometimes we get potential customers who walk into our store and think Dream Dinners is not "fresh" because our meats and some fruits and vegetables are frozen. Well, first I tell them Dream Dinners only sources the highest quality ingredients, same quality as many high end restaurants. Our meats are flash frozen and vacuum sealed to maintain freshness and the highest quality. If I am in the mood to educate them even more, I tell them that what you see at the store as "fresh" may not necessarily be the freshest ingredients. Often times, meats that you buy at the supermarket are previously frozen and thawed, so I say it's always good to make sure you are truly aware of what you're buying.

Of course, I prefer fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season, but sometimes frozen fruits and vegetables are just as fresh.

In 1998, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that frozen fruits and vegetables provide the same essential nutrients and health benefits as fresh. Frozen fruits and vegetables are nothing more than fresh fruits and vegetables that have been blanched (cooked for a short time in boiling water or steamed) and frozen within hours of being picked. Further, frozen fruits and vegetables are processed at their peak in terms of freshness and nutrition. (http://www.healthcastle.com/veggies_fresh_frozen.shtml)

How to juggle business with raising an infant

Trying to balance life with a Dream Dinners store and a growing infant can be a real challenge. My work hours extend beyond any 9-to-5 job. My peak work hours with customers are any time, any day. My cell phone is always on to handle customer phone calls that are forwarded from our store. When Trevor goes to bed, I am plugging away at the computer on sending out our e-newsletters, following up with customer inquiries, booking private parties, paying those darn bills, marketing planning, writing to this blog, etc. The hardest part about doing work with my son around is not being able to do any work! Then, when I'm not working on Dream Dinners stuff, I am also a SAHM taking Trevor to Child Development classes and parks, reading and playing with him, feeding him, changing him, bathing him, cooking and cleaning.

So, in order to juggle business with raising a child without going crazy, I seek help! Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it!

The past two weeks have been extremely busy for me. With three Health and Business Fairs to attend and gearing for our many exciting Summer Initiatives (Summer Rewards, Everyday Foods and Emeril Lagasse recipe dinner kit, website updates, Self-Catering, etc.) my mom decided to take a well-deserved vacation with her friends. So, I decided to accept help from my mother-in-law. =p

My mom is usually my default babysitter/nanny. She absolutely would not have it any other way. "What? You want to hire a babysitter/nanny for Trevor? I don't think so." It's just not part of our culture. Trevor is very lucky to have two grandmas who are ready and willing to babysit any time.

Rising Food and Gas Prices

Do you know how much you spend on food each month? What do you think about those ridiculous rising gas prices? During this unpredictable and slumping economy, what are you doing to spend your hard earned dollars more effectively?

According to over 1000 Dream Dinners respondents surveyed in our Do the Math Contest, our customers saved an average of $188 and 28% overall on food expenses per month! Wow, I think that's pretty amazing! With all the rising food costs, Dream Dinners has maintained its pricing levels to help you save more! By planning your meals ahead and making your meals at once, you save money on GAS, impulse and unnecessary bulk purchases, dining out, wasted food, and most importantly your valuable time!

If you don't believe us, take our challenge and do the calculation. Go ahead, add it up! You may surprise yourself. But, don't take our word for it. =p

Thank You and Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is only a few days away and there are so many messages in the media about what to do and what to buy for Mother's Day. I have never felt as much excitement about Mother's Day until this year; of course, since it will be MY first Mother's Day! Now I can join all the wonderful moms in the world and enjoy all the attention for this one special day. It's only one day, but hey, at least it's better than none!

I am especially appreciative to my mom for everything that she has done for Frank and me. Truly, motherhood is the most difficult job in the world, but definitely the most rewarding. My son Trevor reminds me of that every day.

Dream Dinners San Bruno wishes everyone a wonderful Mother's Day! To all the moms who take time out of your busy schedules to prepare meals at Dream Dinners, THANK YOU for cooking dinner for us, as we are so glad to not be eating leftover pizza! =)

And don't miss the Dr. Phil Show on Friday, May 9th! Dream Dinners will be mentioned on the show, as all audience members of that show received gift certificates of $200 each (donated by Dream Dinners of course)! Check your local listings for show times.

Robin McGraw, Dr. Phil's wife named Dream Dinners as one of the TOP FIVE gifts to give mom for Mother's Day!

http://drphil.com/shows/page/mothersday/

Revamping Our Blog

It's been awhile since we last shared our personal story of Dream Dinners San Bruno. We had deviated from the "juicy" side, but we are now back! Karen, Frank and Marc would like to write more about balancing business and family. We hope you will enjoy reading our blog!

http://sanbrunodinners.blogspot.com/2007/08/our-story.html

Dream Dinners Fundraising 2008

Dream Dinners San Bruno is proud to announce their contributions in 2008 to the following organizations' fundraising efforts:

Alvarado Elementary School (San Francisco)
Cabrillo School (Pacifica)
Clarendon Alternative Elementary School (San Francisco)
Dianne Feinstein Elementary School (San Francisco)
Grattan School (San Francisco)
Hilldale School (Daly City)
Lakeside Presbyterian Center for Children (San Francisco)
Miraloma Cooperative Nursery School (San Francisco)
Noe Valley Cooperative Nursery School (San Francisco)
The Nueva School (Hillsborough)
Pacifica Co-Op Nursery School (Pacifica)
Presidio Hill School (San Francisco)
Saint Dunstan Parish School (Millbrae)
Silverspot Co-Op Nursery School (Brisbane)
Synergy School (San Francisco)
Vallemar School (Pacifica)
and many more...

To find out how you can participate in Dream Dinners fundraising programs, please contact us at (650) 872-0683 or bayhillshoppingctrca@dreamdinners.com.

Easy Entertaining with Dream Dinners

Are you hosting a baby shower, graduation or Father's Day party? How about fundraising auctions or summer BBQ parties?

Cater your next big event with Dream Dinners! We are excited to now offer wonderful Self-Catering dinner and party packages! Our new program offers you a time-saving, stress relieving and cost effective way to host a GREAT party!

For more information. please contact us at (650) 872-0683 or bayhillshoppingctrca@dreamdinners.com.

Interview With Our Customer Natacha S

Tell Us About Your Family:
My husband, Kevin, and I both work full time. Kevin works at a startup company in San Jose, and I work at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. We have three very energetic kids ages 6, 4, and almost 2. Most days I get home at about 6pm, and the kids’ bedtime is 8pm, so between homework, packing lunches and playing with the kids we don't often have a lot of time for meal preparation.

What Did You Do For Meals Before Finding Dream Dinners:
Before we found Dream Dinners we would often prepare several meals on the weekends and eat those during the week. We were also stuck in a rut; we would fix the same things week after week. We would go through the "What do you want for dinner?", "Oh, I don't know what do you want for dinner?" routine.

How Has Dream Dinners Changed Your Life:
We love the variety that Dream Dinners provides. I love the fact that Kevin, who NEVER cooks, can follow the directions and fix a meal for us! Since I have a background in nutrition, I appreciate the fact the most of the meals are very healthy, and even the ones that aren't (like the breakfast sausage sandwich- Canadian Bacon Stuffed French Bread!) are worth the extra calories! The kids love the fact that I don't spend the whole evening in the kitchen.

I had heard a lot about meal prep type stores and had always wanted to try it, so when we moved to Millbrae we saw the Dream Dinners sign at Bayhill Shopping Center and decided to try it. We were hooked from that point on. Marc, Karen and Frank are all very nice, friendly and helpful. I have started bringing my oldest son, Kehl, to help and we both look forward to going to Dream Dinners each month, although I think Kehl enjoys it most because he gets to play his Nintendo!

For Kevin and I, our favorite meal is Lemon Chicken Piccata. For the kids, their favorite meal is the Southwest Meatloaf (Meatballs).

30 Minute Meals

You can get a healthy and delicious dinner on the table in 30 minutes flat. How? Check out this month's dinners for a wonderful surprise. Old favorites and new, you are sure to find quite a few options for your family's table. In addition to our fabulous Chicken Parmesan with Garlic Bread shown above, don't these sound wonderful?

How about:

BAKED CHICKEN TETRAZZINI

As much fun to eat as it is to say. Tender chicken breast strips and spaghetti noodles (provided) are tossed with vegetables and herbs in a light Alfredo sauce and then baked with a crispy crumb crust.

HEARTY BEEF STROGANOFF WITH EGG NOODLES

Tender tips of beef blended with mushrooms, pearl onions, herbs, nonfat sour cream and a touch of tomato paste grace this classic dinner. Serve over tender egg noodles (provided).

CANADIAN BACON STUFFED FRENCH BREAD

A Dream Dinners signature sandwich. French bread is spread with a savory cream cheese blend and layered with sausage crumbles, lean Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese. Heat it wrapped in foil in the oven (or on the grill) until the filling warms and melts to perfection. Perfect for your March Madness parties!

CHEESE LOVER'S MANICOTTI

Hearty cheese-filled manicotti covered with seasoned marinara sauce and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan. This dish is the height of simplicity, going straight from freezer to oven to dinner table where it will be enjoyed by the pickiest eater.

STEAK WITH GARLIC & HERB BUTTER

Quickly becoming one of Dream Dinners’ most popular entrées, this dinner is definitely a cut above! Individual steaks to grill or oven-broil, served smothered with our incredible garlic & herb butter. Don’t miss this dinner; you may even want to order two!

BEEF SKEWERS WITH PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE

Aged, tender kabob meat is marinated in a Thai-inspired blend of garlic, spices, and lime juice, then broiled to finish. The dipping sauce has hints of hoisin sauce and tomato, the perfect accompaniment to this dinner.

FAST LANE:

MAPLE GLAZED BACON WRAPPED TURKEY MEDALLIONS

Turkey medallions are wrapped with smoky bacon, baked with a velvety sauce of maple syrup and a touch of Dijon mustard. Fully assembled and ready to go.

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU WITH WHITE WINE SAUCE

So simple, yet so elegant! Chicken breasts stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, these are the real deal! They bake quickly, and the sauce adds the finishing touches to a dinner that will be sure to become a family favorite. Fully assembled and ready to go.

LUSCIOUS LEMON BARS

Creamy lemon custard on shortbread crust; they are simply divine! Enjoy these anytime. Fully assembled and ready to go. No baking required. (Sixteen pieces).

These are just a few of the more than 15 entrees available this month at Dream Dinners. Is your Log in or register at our site for our "Quick to Fix" March Menu.

March Menu!

New at Dream Dinners

Providing you with the dinners your family loves, while giving you variety and an opportunity to try something new, are goals we try to achieve. We are listening to you, and now we can give you more of what you want.

Specials

Available monthly, these dinners represent the newest creations of our executive chef and recipes developed with Dream Dinners partners.

Classics

Every month our guests ask, 'When are you bringing back that dinner I love?' So, we came up with a solution that will please the entire family. Each of these Classic Dream Dinners is available two months in a row, and returns to our menu frequently.

Best of the Best

Once a year Dream Dinners’ guests choose our Best of the Best award winning dinners, and just like our Classics, demand for these menu items is high. Now you will find a selection of our Best of the Best dinners available regularly!

Fast Lane

Short on time? Need some quick solutions to your dinner plans for the month? Our Fast Lane menu includes Dream Dinners Classics, limited time offers and desserts that are already assembled and ready-to-go! Selections may vary by store.

Side Dishes

Do you need side dishes to accompany your Dream Dinners? We have a variety of sides and accompaniments available at your local store. Unsure? Add them to your order during your session, or call your store for more information. Selections vary by store.

Dream Dinners in Time Magazine

Dream Dinners is being featured in Time Magazine in a great article!

Here is a bit of the article written by Joel Stein:

"I'd have Dream Dinners' rich Steak Gorgonzola again, or that big, gloppy, messy, delicious dish of prunes, olives and capers they call Chicken Mirabella. The other nice thing was the price. I learned that you can clip as many coupons as you want, but you can never make a dinner as cheaply as these kitchens can."


By the way, that Steak Gorgonzola is available through the end of the month, so why not finish the article by clicking the link below and then scheduling your session?

Time Magazine Article

OPEN HOUSE- FEBRUARY 6, 2008

Dream Dinners San Bruno

Open House

Wednesday, February 6

4-7pm

Come see what the fuss is all about!

Join us for a taste of Dream Dinners and RSVP to assemble a free dinner to take home.

Our February menu features "Light and Lean" dinners to help you eat healthy. Learn about how Dream Dinners can also save you time and money!

To RSVP please contact us at 650-872-0683 or email us at bayhillshoppingctrca@dreamdinners.com

Congratulations !!

Dream Dinners San Bruno Loyalty Program

Gold level Customers for January 2008

Terri Lynn C.

Jeri G.

Lisa T.

This customer will receive a personalized Dream Dinners Apron.

Gold level - 9 out of 10 months

Dream Dinners San Bruno on Best of the Bay TV

Does this Dream Dinners location look familiar? This segment on KRON4's Best of the Bay TV was filmed at Dream Dinners in San Bruno!

New Year ! New Food !!!

Let's jump-start the new year with a clean freezer. To help you, we are having a special contest and promotion next month in January!

If you are "guilty" of having a Dream Dinners in your freezer that is older than six months, don't worry. We will take them from you! Bring in a Dream Dinners meal that is from June 2007 or prior and we will give you a credit for a NEW Dream Dinners on your next order.* Or you can take a picture of it and send it to us (we'll believe you).

We will even give a prize to the OLDEST Dream Dinners! Not necessarily something to boast about, but definitely something for us to laugh about.

*Offer valid through February 2008 and limit one per household, not to be combined with other offers.