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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Mmm I love all fondue but would love to try the dark chocolate dessert!
The shrimp looks yum, but white chocolate fondue…. whoa. Give meee! 😉
Oh geez..such a tough decision! I would say dessert. My boyfriend and I are overdue for a romantic night out!
Cheese please!
I’m gong with entree- I appreciate the new “skinny” menu as well because who doesn’t like to enjoy a meal and not feel glutenous after.
DESSERT! Love dipping marshmallows in just about anything!
HOLY YUM! Looks amazing. I would definitely say CHEESE. Dessert is tempting, but my heart belongs to cheese.
I have always been so curious about this restaurant, so thanks for sharing your date night! I can’t believe I’m going to say this, since dessert is usually what I am most excited about, but I think I would actually look most forward to the entree course. I love the idea of trying different sauces but I would hope to save some of my cheese too from the first course!
Definitely the cheese. Is there anything better than melted cheese and bread?? Yum!
The cheese! All sound delicious but cheese is my favorite food! Love that they have a lightened up menu, great idea.
Holy smokes-do we love the Melting Pot or what? Look at all these comments. I love love love the chocolate course whether it is dark, milk or white- bring it! 😉
I would love the cheese course! The Melting Pot is a very special treat for us!
Cheese for sure! Yum!
Chocolate. Most definitely!!
The Melting Pot is by far the nicest and most fun place my boyfriend and I went to… for our one year anniversary a few months back! If we were to go again I would love getting more of the delicious cheese fondue… but the chocolate is unbelievably incredible too, the Smores flavor is to die for!
I have yet to try the chocolate fondue and I regret it every time! Their deserts are supposed to be the best! The creme brulee white chocolate sounds delicious as well!
Definitely the cheese!!!! 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try The Melting Pot, but I’ve been hesitant due to the price. Of the courses, I think I’d have the most fun trying the different sauces in the entree course, but I also love dessert!
I would love the cheese with bacon!
i’ve never been but everything looks delicious! i’d love to win 🙂
The chocolate portion of course! I’m six months pregnant! 🙂
I would absolutely be most excited for the dessert fondue!! This would be perfect to use for Valentine’s Day!
The Chocolate!!! I love the Yin Yang one!!!
I looove cheese but I would have to go with a dark chocolate fondue! After reading your post all I can think about having for dinner is melted cheese and chocolate! 🙂
My favorite is always dessert so the chocolate fondue is what I’m looking forward to!!
I would love to try the cheese fondue! And would also love a date night with my hubby 🙂
CHOCOLATE!! And we are in total need of a date night!
CHOCOLATE!! And we are in total need of a date night! With 4 kiddos having been out for the holidays–we could use some food therapy 🙂
I would love the chocolate fondue! Definitely would be great for a date night!
loooove the melting pot.. dying for the white chocolate creme brulee now! thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
Probably the cheese!
I have been wanting to eat there!!! The cheese would be the highlight for me for sure 😀
chocolate, hands down!
The entré course sounds good! I love the idea of multiple sauces…especially for someone who cant decide on what they want!
Although chocolate is my weakness in life… I love getting steak when I am out to dinner, mostly because I am intimidated about making it at home & not messing it up! Today is my boyfriend and I’s 4 year anniversary, and unfortunately I have been sick with a stomach flu & upper respiratory infection since the new year so we haven’t been able to do anything fun to celebrate! A gift card to the Melting Pot would definitely turn 2013 around for me 🙂
Although I have a special place in my heart for chocolate, I cannot deny the cheese portion sounded amazing! That would definitely be my favorite pic 🙂 Cute date night!
Cheese most definitely!!!
While I adore cheese fondue, the chocolate is more versatile and sooo delicious. 🙂
My husband took me to The Melting Pot for my Birthday several years ago and have wanted to go back ever since. We love the cheese course! Delicious!
The chocolate would be my favorite! Would love to win, I loooovveee fondue!
I’m probably the only crazy one to say this, but my favorite part is their salads! They are seriously SO good! Especially the Caesar!
that crème brûlée white chocolate fondue looks amazing and is soooo calling my name!!!
I absolutely love the cheese!! Like you said, the apple and bread combination is delishhh!
I would definitely look forward to the cheese course! Although, the entire dinner looks fabulous!!! 🙂
Definitely the cheese! But the chocolate is a very close 2nd. 🙂
Date nights are so important for a relationship, but so easy to over look! If I were to win, I’d have to go with the chocolate….all chocolate! HA!
All of it looks amazing! I’d particularly enjoy the cheese course. It would be a perfect date night away from the kids!
I have always wanted to go to the Melting Pot, but it’s rather expensive. I would love this gift card and I would loooove to try the chocolate fondue! Especially the one you had!
I love the Melting Pot! Dessert is most DEFINITELY my favorite course. Oh my. As a pregnant lady, you are killing me with those pictures! 😉
I love the entree because I am sucker for dipping sauces!