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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The cheese course! The Brie with bacon that you tried sounds amazing!
My husband and I both have yet to try this deliciosity! Looking forward to the chocolate the most
How funny!… My boyfriend and I were just saying yesterday that we need to try out The Melting Pot here in Portland! All of those courses looked amazing, but I am definitely looking forward to the cheese course… Mmmm….
ALWAYS in the mood for cheese… That all looks so yummy!!!
The Entree course looks so amazing but im a sucker for the occasional desert!!!
I am an avid PBF reader…You and Ryan are adorable and your half-marathon training is inspiring. 🙂
My hubby and I love date nights as well.—-we would look forward to the melty cheese!!!! Nom, nom, nom.
Win or lose, I’m adding the melting pot to the list of possible date night dates.
OMG Brie and bacon? Sounds delicious
I just heard they are very gluten-free friendly so I’d love to do the chocolate fondue!!
AHHHH such a great giveaway, I love love the melting pot and didn’t know they had a skinny dipping menu. That cheese portion looks amazing, it would definitely be my favorite! I looove cheese, can barely keep any in the house or I eat it all 🙂 yum, each course looked delicious though!
I’d love to try the cheese fondue.
Cheese!!!! And chocolate. 🙂
The cheese! So delicious!
Chocolate all the way.
No contest…the chocolate of course! I’ve had the dark chocolate there and it’s to die for! 🙂
I love the entree course at Melting Pot the most– love that I can barely cook the steak so it’s super rare! Plus the dipping sauces mix it up a lot.
Chocolate with cheesecake please! Love that they have ‘skinny’ options now too.
Ah! I have always wanted to try the Melting Pot with my Fiance! This would be such a fabulous surprise for both of us. I know the both of us would be most excited about the chocolate fondue!!!
Chocolate of course!!!
Although that curry yogurt sauce is incredible, I think I would eat pieces of cooked shoe if it was dipped in that. 🙂
Definitely the chocolate course!
Chocolate course, hands down!
Chocolate, of course!!
Definitely the chocolate!! Sometimes my fiance and I stop by after dinner just for dessert!
Glad you guys had a great date night! Looks like you got a cute new purse too 🙂
The dessert/chocolate course is by far the best at the Melting Pot! Delicious!!!!
I love the cheese course- I could go to melting pot just for that!
Definitely the cheese course! Sounds delicious.
Chocolate! It looks amazing!
I love just about everything at The Melting Pot but I’m a true cheese gal at heart. Melty cheese is a symphony to my taste buds!
Oh my!! They all look fabulous…. but I think my favorite would have to be the chocolate! yummm!
Such a fun date night! One of my friends had a fondue pot and we would all bring different dipping items and get together for a fondue party – so fun! As a huge cheese fan, the cheese course is definitely my favorite!
Chocolate of course!
The dessert of course! The white chocolate and caramel looks amazing. I’ve e never been there!
Oh wow, definitely the cheese! I’ve never been to Melting Pot but I’m pretty sure my boyfriend and I would love it.
I’m most excited for the chocolate course! Dipping various things in warm, melty chocolate?!? Sounds like a dream!
I’d definitely love the cheese course!
Chocolate all the way!
Yum! All of that looks so delicious – especially the mushrooms and broccoli.
I would love to try the cheese course! I’m a sucker for bread and cheese; throwing some fresh veggies in there sounds great too.
Definitely cheese!!!!
Hands down the chocolate is the best part! I’ve gone just for dessert with my husband!
Entree…I love trying all the different sauces with the veggies, meats, and seafood.
You guys are such a cute couple and you always look like you have such a fun time on your date nights!!!
Chocolate for sure!! 🙂
Chocolate, always!
The cheese course is always my favorite … but the dessert is a very very close second!
My husband and I have never been to the melting pot but have talked about it numerous times as a date night away from the kiddos. I think I would look forward to the cheese the most……..my theory is everything is better with a little cheese hehe
Chocolate! Last time my husband and I went I literally wanted to lick the bowl clean…
The cheese fondue (especially with apples for doping) sounds amazing!
I love the cheese fondue! Every flavor!
I would be going STRAIGHT for the cheese course!!!!! I have been dying to take my girlfriends to a Melting Pot, would use the gift certificate for an epic girls’ night out dinner!!
Dessert! I have the biggest sweet tooth and the caramel white chocolate sounds delicious!!
The turtle chocolate fondue is my fave!