Ryan and I went out on a fondue date last night!
Our first date night of 2013 took us to The Melting Pot in downtown Ocala.
Downtown Ocala is still decorated for the holidays, so we had fun walking around the square before dinner and taking in the holiday sights before they’re put away until next year.
Once we meandered over to the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the hostess and escorted to a cozy booth.
Drinks!
Tipsy Turtle + Blackberry Bourbon Bramble
Ryan and I planned our date night after I received a press release from The Melting Pot inviting me to try some of the dishes on the restaurant’s new Skinny Dipping menu. The Skinny Dipping menu features three courses – a salad, fondue entrée and dark chocolate fondue dessert – for less than 700 calories. I selected a salad and entrée off the Skinny Dipping menu last night and loved both of my choices! (I veered off the Skinny Dipping menu for the cheese and chocolate fondue courses.)
Our meal began with the cheese fondue!
Ryan and I selected the special of the day which included a big pot of brie and bacon cheese fondue, served with bread, tart apple slices and fresh vegetables for dipping.
Oh cheese fondue, you are so fabulous!
Our waitress suggested placing a piece of bread and an apple slice on our fondue forks at the same time before dipping it into the cheese and the flavor combination was fantastic!
Salads were delivered to our table shortly after we finished the cheese course.
I ordered the spinach salad topped with baby Portobello mushrooms, red onion, chopped bacon, Roma tomatoes and a warm burgundy shallot vinaigrette. Though this salad came off the Skinny Dipping menu, it didn’t taste lightened up at all! The toppings were quite generous and the dressing was delicious.
When it came time to order our entrees, I decided to go for a combination of shrimp and teriyaki-marinated sirloin.
At first I thought the portion looked rather small, but as I started eating, I filled up fast. (I think I had a head start on filling my belly with the cheese course!)
Every entrée comes with fresh vegetables to cook in your fondue pot and I couldn’t get enough of the mushrooms! They were the best, especially when dipped in the various sauces.
Ryan and I both agreed that the five dipping sauces that came with our entrees added so much to our meal. My favorite two sauces were the teriyaki and the mild, yogurt-based curry sauce.
And then it was time for dessert! The shining star of any fondue experience!
It didn’t take much convincing from our waitress for us to order the crème brûlée white chocolate fondue for dessert.
Caramel shavings were sprinkled atop creamy white chocolate and set afire before we cracked the caramel coating with our fondue forks and dipping items.
I am normally not a huge white chocolate fan, but the caramel component of this fondue took it to another level. Ryan and I used our spoons to get every last bit of chocolate out of our fondue pot. Incredible!
And now here’s the really fun part!
One of YOU will win a $100 gift card to The Melting Pot to enjoy your own fantastic fondue experience! (To find a location near you, you can visit The Melting Pot’s Locations page.)
To enter this giveaway, please tell me what course you would look forward to enjoying the most if you won the gift card. Cheese? Chocolate? Entrée?
I will randomly select a winner on Tuesday.
Good luck!!!
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Chocolate, all the way! 😉
CHOCOLATE!!! yummm
I would soo want that dessert!!
The meat would be awesome
Chocolate!!!!! 🙂
I would kill for that cheese fondue! It looks amazing! And of course the chocolate!
Chocolate…hands down!
It is hard to decide between cheese and chocolate. I’m going to go with cheese!
I love Melting Pot! The cheese and the chocolate courses are definitely my favorite.
Definitely chocolate!! 🙂
the chocolate dessert fondue! yum.
Cheese, Cheese and more Cheese. I’ve always wanted to try Melting Pot but have never been. It sounds like a wonderful date night and also would make a great eveniing to spend with friends.
Chocolate chocolate!!!!!
Would love to try the Melting Pot! The chocolate course looks delicious!
Gotta love that cheese fondue!
Ummmm first of all…hello! Totally loving the “Skinny Dipping” menu! How fabulous is that! This would be the perfect date night!!!! The Petite Seafood Trio sounds delish mixed with the cheese fondue..mmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm!
Here’s to wishing and hoping!
The Cheese. I have been wanting to go here for so long!! Thanks for a fun giveaway!
Chocolate of course! My boyfriend and I went on a date to the Melting Pot, but filled up too fast to get dessert. I would love to try the dessert course!
My boyfriend and I go bonkers over Melting Pot’s cheese fondue! We try to replicate it at home, but it’s never quite as amazing. I just think we need to go back and do more research… 🙂
Cheese. No, chocolate. No, cheese. Ahhh, I can’t decide!!! 🙂
Cheese!
i’m a cheese lover
The cheese course looks fabulous!
Hi there! 🙂 Happy Monday!
I would love to enjoy the cheeeeese! OMG I love fondue and I have never been to the Melting Pot! I have been to another place called La Fondue, but its very pricey so don’t go much! Thanks for the entry!
Stefanie
I would LOVE to try this restaurant…it looks delish!
The cheese course – yum!!!
Definitely the chocolate and the cheese and… well…… the entree. I can’t decide!!!!
The cheese course would be my favorite!
Definitely the chocolate!!
I love the Melting Pot! The chocolate course is always my favorite. When we don’t want a full meal we sometimes just go for the cheese course and dessert…it is so worth it!
The chocolate course would be my first choice if I win the gift card! I love fondue!
There’s a Melting Pot down the street, and I always walk by wondering what yummy creations are inside! I would do chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. With a side of chocolate.
cheese! i’ve never been
I have been to the Melting Pot once before for dessert and I wouldn’t mind going back to try out the cheese fondue or the entrees!!
Chocolate for sure!
chocolate!
Mmmmm…Cheese and chocolate please with a side of wine! Of course these are the best! 🙂
I would most look forward to the cheese, but the next time I go I promised my 7 year old I would take him and he is a total chocolate lover.
You can NEVER go wrong with Chocolate 😉
I have never been there, but I’ve heard they have some gluten-free options. How can one choose between chocolate and cheese though? Both are awesome.
Chocolate!
Wow…..I have never been to this would be awesome to win…….I would live the cheese! My husband would love dessert!
Wow…..I have never been to this would be awesome to win…….I would love the cheese! My husband would love dessert!
Oh my goodness, easily the chocolate course! I always try to save room for dessert at the Melting Pot! The new skinny dipping menu is definitely something I will have to try in the future… the very near future 🙂
I’m normally a huge sweets girl but I’ve never had real cheese fondue so i think I’d go with the cheese course!
Entree is the best part for me 🙂
I would look forward to the chocolate the most! Especially with all those yummy dippers!
Definitely the crème brûlée white chocolate fondue. Looks a-maz-ing!!
Ive never been to the melting pot but have always wanted to go! I think I would be most excited about the dessert!!
You guys look like you had such a great time! And the food looks incredible.
I’ve heard so many good things about this place! I could never pass up chocolate!