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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I would have to choose the cheese! Yum yum yum!
The cheese course!!
Sounds weird but ad-mist all the yummy fondues- I could totally just eat the cheese and chocolate fondue- I love their Caesar salads! They have pine nuts in them and just take the plain ol’ Caesar salad to the next level!
I have never had fondue/done fondue? So I would actually just like to try it out because I hear great things about it all the time 🙂
I love the melting pot! I definitely look forward to the chocolate… No questions!
I’ve never been but have always wanted to try the Melting Pot and especially want to try the desert options with the chocolate fondue!
Wow, it’s hard to pick betwee the cheese and dessert!! Both would be amazing!!! 🙂
I would look most forward to the chocolate part:) I would love to take my Dad since he loves trying new restaurants and we both have never gone before.
That cheese course, of course! It sounds amazing with bread!
The Melting Pot has always been on my bucket list for a special occasion! I can’t wait to try the chocolate!!! Yummm!
Ah I love the Melting Pot! I’ve had the white chocolate creme brûlée before and I literally spooned the rest of the chocolate out of the pot once all the dippers where gone.
Ohmygosh. I love the melting pot! My boyfriend and I went their for our 2 year anniversary last year and it was amazing!! (And quite expensive) they even brought us to a 2 person booth with a curtain to close. Woah. We had a four course meal. The salad, cheese, entree, and dessert. The turtle chocolate fondue they light on fire!!! The fondue makes all the foods to dip so much better!!!!!
Man oh man that Brie sounds good! I’ve never been to the melting pot or any fondue restaurant…I’d love to try!!
i LOVE cheese so the cheese course is my favorite! i have also had their tipsy turtles – fabulous drink. my girlfriends and i are actually going to the melting pot this thursday to celebrate my birthday!
There’s one fairly close to my house that we’ve never tried!
Wow – your Melting Pot experience looks awesome! Though I’ve never been, my fiancé has been a few times. We recently registered for our wedding and while at Macy’s bought a fondue kit on a whim. We’ve only been brave enough to try the cheese recipes, but thus far, they have been delicious!! I’d love to try the actual restaurant!
I have always wanted to try the Melting Pot! I would like the cheese fondue with all the goodies to dip it in!
There is a Melting Pot about 30 minutes from my house, and I’ve always wanted to go. The chocolate fondue would definitely be my favorite part!
As much as I loooooove chocolate and dipping things in chocolate, I have to say the cheese course is where it’s at!! Looks like a very sweet date night!
They all look delicious! It’s hard to pick just one! I would love to experience The Melting Pot to have the chance to taste all of the wonderful options they have to offer. Love your posts!!!
chocolate course 100%!
I love chocolate fondue at the Melting Pot! The desserts are always sooo good! Yum!
I am a dessert girl. Chocolate would definitely be what excites me, although it all sounds delicious.
I love, love cheese fondue! I’ve never been to the melting before either so this would be awesome!
I have never been before but the chocolate has my name written all over it!
cheese for sure! Don’t even have to think twice about that!
I would look forward to both the cheese and dessert courses! Sounds so yummy!
I’d love to try the Skinny menu! I like that even the melting pot is making healthy options available. Great way to stick to new years resolutions and have some fun!
easily the chocolate course….no question!
Being a white chocolate fan, I would stray away from the Skinny Dipping menu for dessert too and order the Creme Brûlée White Chocolate Fondu!
I would be looking forward to the cheese course. The Brie and bacon sounds amazing!!!
I’ve only done fondue at home a couple of times, but I would love to have a whole menu to choose from. Cheese, please!
yummy!! I would die for both the cheese and chocolate! I wouldn’t be able to stop dipping… 🙂
without a doubt, the cheese!
Ah, this is a great giveaway — I’ve been dying to try The Melting Pot!
Brie and bacon cheese fondue?! Sign me up!!!
The cheese course is always my fave! I’m pretty sure I could skip the main course and go cheese, salad, dessert!
The cheese! I’m always so full by the time the chocolate comes I never really enjoy it.
I would most look forward to the cheese!
I would definitely look forward to the chocolate fondue! I have never been to the Melting Pot, but it sounds delicious!
Definitely the chocolate- so delicious!
I love their cheese and dessert fondues, but if I have to pick, I would say I look forward to enjoying a white chocolate dessert the most!
Oh it’s always dessert, are ya kidding me!
I went to The Melting Pot once several years ago and have been dreaming of the desserts ever since! Bring on the chocolate!!
definitely the cheese! I’m obsessed with queso so I feel like cheese fondue and I will have no problem getting along!
Ohhhhhh…..it’s a tie between the cheese and the dessert course! 🙂 I’ve never been to the Melting Pot, but it looks fabulous!
Definitely the cheese course . . . we have one in Tampa and my hubby and I have always wanted to go. This would be the perfect opportunity! Have a great weekend.
I would love to try the cheese fondue the most!
Everything tastes better dipped in cheese!
I don’t know if I can pick! All fondue is so delicious and the Melting Pot is such a great date night spot! The apples & cheese fondue is probably my favorite combo though 🙂
I’ve always wanted to go to the Melting Pot! The chocolate course would be my highlight for sure!