The Melting Pot

 There are more than 145 Melting Pot locations across the United States. This franchise is also going to Canada! Each Melting Pot location offers a unique style of dining in which you participate in the cooking of your meal through the fondue experience. It is a fun and yummy adventure!

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit The Melting Pot in Westwood, NJ to review the new French Inspired Big Night Out menu.

The French Inspired menu offers a 4 course meal as well as wines and specialty drinks that pair well with the flavors and the theme. The meal begins with a flavorful cheese, “Fondue à la France,” consists of a white wine base, baby Brie, Fontina, Gruyère and Raclette cheeses accented with Nueske’s bacon, onions, white truffle cream and fresh chives It was very unique and the bacon flavor was very nice. This was served with a variety of dippers, including apples, vegetables and bread.  We followed the cheese with a salad, The Niçoise. A classic French salad from the city of Nice, includes French and yellow beans, Niçoise olives imported from France, tomatoes and hard-boiled egg topped with a robust shallot vinaigrette.  The dressing was very light and enjoyable.

For the main course we selected the Lobster's Indulgence and were very pleased with our selection. All of the choices provided in this selection were fantastic. The lobster stood out because it was incredibly flavorful and was served with a melted butter that was also seasoned to perfection. The main course is also served with vegetable and a variety of sauces. Each sauce is different and goes well with different types of meat and/or seafood. My personal favorite was the Green Goddess that tasted fantastic on the potatoes and mushrooms. I also love the flavor in their teriyaki sauce.

And of course, a fondue experience would not be complete without the chocolate! We decided to stay on course with the French Inspired Big Night Out with the dessert. Chef Shane whipped up a new white chocolate crème brûlée fondue. This is a mixture of white chocolate and crème caramel syrup flambéed tableside with caramelized sugar and alcohol spray to form the hard crust. It truly mimicked the flavor signature to creme brulee. This chocolate was accompanied by a variety of desserts perfect for dipping, such as strawberries, cereal treats, brownies, cheesecake and more. Are you hungry yet?

Dining at the Westwood, NJ Melting Pot was a truly enjoyable experience. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated with a nice wine room and booths that create privacy. The staff was all incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. Our waiter, Jose, was attentive and professional. He made sure we had all the information we needed in order to have an enjoyable experience.

For my husband and I to enjoy the four course meal it took 2 hours. This was a welcome change to our usual 15 minute dinners where our daughter is throwing food and needs constant attention. We enjoyed every moment of each others company in a peaceful environment.

While we truly enjoyed the French Inspired Big Night out this menu option is only available for a limited time. You can take a look at the dinner menu here. Also, regular menu items may serve as substitutions in the Big Night Out menu to help you create your ideal meal.

The proprietors of the Westwood, NJ Melting Pot, Will and Carol Layfield, are also the proprietors of the Melting Pot restaurants in White Plains, NY and Darien, CT. While providing this fantastic style of dining for the tr-state area, they are also active in the community raising funds for several New Jersey based organizations. On this list is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which you all know is near and dear to my heart. I am thrilled to support the Layfield's restaurants due to the exceptional dining experience, as well as their contributions to deserving causes.

GIVEAWAY: FIVE Lucky Readers will receive a $20 DIP Certificate! These DIP Certificates are redeemable at the Westwood, NJ; White Plains, NY and Darien, CT locations.
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

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EXTRA ENTRIES:
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7. Take a look at the menu and tell me one thing you would love to try!

This giveaway ends on October 8, 2010 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!