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In a hurry? Try Dinner By Design
By Scott Miller
scottmiller@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Kandis Barnum and Lee Cowles have the answer for families too busy to cook but bored with dining out.

The brother and sister plan to open a Dinner By Design kitchen in mid-January at the Shoppes at Corporate Commons, behind the Krispy Kreme at Veterans Parkway and Washington Street, Bloomington.

At the store, customers can spend one to two hours preparing meals to take home to freeze and cook later. Cooking supplies, fresh ingredients, recipes and tutors are provided.

“Someone who’s never cooked before can come in this kitchen and really accomplish something,” said Barnum, who’s been training with Dinner By Design since June 2006.

“People can kind of customize their recipes … if their families don’t like onions, or mushrooms, or green peppers or whatever,” she said. “It is possible to be creative while you’re here.”

A menu of 15 entrees changes monthly. Each menu also features a health-conscious recipe from Cooking Light magazine.

Customers can choose to prepare six meals or 12, in sessions of one to two hours.

While firm times haven’t been set, customers can check schedules and menus at www.dinnerbydesignkitchen.com. Barnum expects to have two daily sessions on weekdays, one in the morning, another in the afternoon. She’ll probably also have two to three evening sessions during the week, with another one or two on Saturdays.

Customers can also place orders for carryout or stop by to pick up pre-made entrees in a freezer.

Prices range from about $80 for six “mini meals” to $250 for 12 meals prepared by the staff, according to the chain’s Web site. Each entree serves four to six people.

Store hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Dinner By Design has kitchens throughout the Midwest and eastern U.S. The Bloomington-Normal location will be one of the first in Illinois outside the Chicago area, where the chain was founded.

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Reader comments on this story - 2 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Working Mom wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:53 PM:

" With hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. it doesn't do me much good. To be successful you'll need to be open when working moms can be there. "

BN Cynic wrote on Oct 25, 2007 9:34 AM:

" It's a shame that Dish Kitchen is closing, just as this place it opening. Of course, these guys have a better shot at success with the townies, since this is an almighty CHAIN STORE. "
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