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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Just found out there is one close to me! The chocolate course would be awesome! 🙂
DESSERT!!!!!!! After a long run, of course. 🙂
We have been wanting to go to this restaurant for years but have never tried it!! The cheese dip looks amazing 🙂 I’m getting hungry looking at all of these pictures – what an awesome giveaway!
Ach! I’m obsessed with The Melting Pot. I worked there for 2 years in college just to get the 50% off benefit. I enjoy the cheese—fiesta fondue all the way! 🙂
Cheese course for sure — I am already salivating over the brie and bacon fondue.
I would definitely look forward to the cheese course! I love The Melting Pot’s spinach artichoke cheese 🙂
I have quite a sweet tooth…chocolate!
Definitely the chocolate. I have a major sweet tooth.
Chocolate!! Is there any other answer? 🙂
Love the fact that you have soo many comments on this post already- your blog is amazing!
I would love to try the cheese and chocolate fondue. I’ve actually never had fondue before and I’d love to try it!
mmmm! probably would love it ALL! you can’t go wrong with the two C’s – cheese and chocolate! nom nom nom :o)
chocolate!! yummm
I would love to try the cheeses!
I love cheese so I would look forward to the cheese fondue the most!
I LOVE cheese. Maybe the spinach artichoke cheese fondue? That sounds delicious!
My parents took me to the melting pot for my birthday years ago— it was delicioius. My favorite would have to be the cheese fondue with the apples and bread. Yum!
I’d have to go with entree. The shrimp and beef looks delicious.
Chocolate! Love that restaurant!!!
I would definitely look forward to the dessert. Who can resist cheesecake dipped in chocolate? yum.
I would look forward to the dessert the most–chocolate & strawberries together is never bad in my book! 🙂
Although I love cheese nothing can top the chocolate fondue! YUM!!!!!
The cheese and chocolate are my favorites….but I’m craving the cheese today!!
I seriously cannot choose between chocolate and cheese – they’re both melted heavenly goodness! Everything in your pictures look amazing! The Melting Pot is such a great date night spot 🙂
Chocolate! Delish!
The cheese course is my favorite. Bread and melty cheese?! What’s not to love?!!
The chocolate course is def my favorite!
Chocolate, of course!
I love the Melting Pot! It is a great restaurant for a girls’ night out or a date night with several other couples! I have a sweet tooth so my favorite would be the chocolate fondue!
I am sure the chocolate would be my fav! They all look delicious!
oh my this would be delicious!! It would be a tough call between the cheese and the chocolate, of course probably the 2 that are the most unhealthy, but glad to see they have lighter options available!
Cheese cheese cheese I love cheese!!
Wow, that dessert fondue that you two got sounds incredible! Creme brulee? Yes, please! I’d love to try the shrimp and veggies, too. I’ve never been to the Melting Pot but I’ve heard good things.
We will be in Baton Rouge in a few weeks and I would love to try the cheese fondue at the Melting Pot…. We do not have one close to us so that would be great….
I was just telling my boyfriend we needed to have a Melting Pot date after we passed it last night! I love the cheese and chocolate courses!!
Cheese for sure!
The chocolate course looks amazing!
Definitely the chocolate course!
I love anything with cheese!
I always love the entree, especially the veggies! Yum! Though, I mean really, cheese and chocolate are always amazing!
I’d love to try the cheese fondue!! Yummmmmm!
I would definitely enjoy the dessert course best!
Cheeeeese please!!! So excited to learn there is one in Virginia Beach and can’t wait to try it!
Wow, that creme brulée looks amazing! I’ll be trying the Melting Pot for the first time later this month, so I’m very excited!
Mmmmm! I’m all about a warm vat of oozing cheese with lots of yummy dippers!!
Dessert!
There’s a Melting Pot near me, and I’ve been wanting to try it! I think I would like the cheese course the best, but dessert would be a close second!
Entree. But really all because I’ve never been to The Melting Pot. It’s been on my list for some time. Thanks for the wonderful review!
The dessert is the best, of course; but would enjoy all of the courses!!
Definitely cheese 🙂
Chocolate! Hands down!