Lori Johns and Rachel Wydeven Oliverius, above, are busy inviting strangers to make food in their kitchen.

That’s what their new business, Blue Plate Dinners, is all about. The place – an independent meal-assembly kitchen – opened last month inside the former home of West Side Deli, southwest of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.

Blue Plate Dinners is intended for people who are looking to serve home-cooked meals, all while saving time, money and hassle. Blue Plate handles the menu planning, shopping, slicing, dicing and cleaning up.

Customers call ahead to arrange a two-hour session, select meals and then come in – often with friends – to assemble up to 12 meals, which then are taken home to be refrigerated or frozen for future use.

For more information, visit www.blueplatedinners.com.

Another meal-assembly business, Social Suppers, is moving into the former Mr. Gatti’s location at the northwestern corner of Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive.