The Melting Pot

I finally went to The Melting Pot on Friday. I didn't stand outside and wish I had the money; I just willed myself to go in and try some more food. This is my favorite restaurant (besides The Cheesecake Factory) so why be afraid to spend some money on food you like. I went inside and I loved it. Let me show you how they do things at The Melting Pot.

When you first arrive at The Melting Pot, you are escorted to your seat, just like in any other restaurant. Unlike other restaurants, there is a sudden ambience that accompanies the feeling of being in a restaurant. As you can see to the right is a picture of the light that is at every table. The light is dim but strong enough to illuminate the eating area. For some reason, the light also brings a sense of passion and experience to every table. I can not explain the feeling but you know that the day is about to be flipped inside out.

Ironically, I was escorted to the area where the wines were hanging. I had no intention of drinking any but just the sight of it was very romantic. This is definitely a restaurant where you can feel the aroma in the air- literally and figuratively. Just a point of information, The Melting Pot has one of the most extensive selections of wine there is in any restaurant I have been in. There are over one hundred selections of red wine and over one hundred selections of white wine from all kinds of spectrums. There are tons of dry wines to accompany dry foods that are served and there are more fruity, explorative wines to choose from. I mean it is hard to not stare at the glass window that adorn these wine bottles. Would you resist?

On to the main portion of why I am writing about this in my blog today. The Melting Pot has various options and styles of food. I was first treated to an appetizer which in The Melting Pot terms means cheese fondue. For those of you who do not know what fondue is, it is cheese or chocolate melted into a pot and is used as a dip for other food items such as bread or vegetables. My cheese fondue was a combination of various cheeses melted into the pot and the food items that were dipped into this amalgamation was granny apples (the sour apples), pumpernickel and wheat bread, celery, carrots, and cauliflower. The flavor of the cheese was spiced up since I added some diced peppers. The appetizer was okay, although I probably should have settled without the spice. I will probably the pure cheddar cheese fondue over this one however.

The next dish was a salad, a Chef's featured salad. I am not the biggest salad eater, even though I do need a little balance in my food selection at times. Honestly, I wasn't particularly fond of the salad. If there was a drawback in the food selection, I would say the salads leave a little more to be desired. The flavor of this particular salad was not bad but I am not a big egg or tomato eater. I finished most of it and save room for the entree.

I wanted to try something different today. Usually I get seafood or sirloin tips. On Friday, I got The French Quarter as my entree- cajun food. I had Andouille sausage, chicken breast, tenderloins, and shrimp, all flavored with cajun spices. Once again, I think I should have done without the spices especially on the chicken breast as they seemed to overpower me. The How-To-Do on cooking these meats: simply place the meats on the fondue forks provided and put it in the cooking style which for me was Bouillabaisse (I think this is how you spell it, if not, I apologize). I liked the food but I did not pace myself like I usually do when I am at The Melting Pot. I had one too many Shirley Temples before the actual entree was presented and my body did not sit well with the Shirley Temples (sweet), the Chicken Breast (spicy), and the Granny apples (sour). Personally, I think I killed the experience by attempting to mix and match these styles. I have to be more cautious next time. By the time I paid the bill two hours after I arrived, I felt relatively nauseated (that didn't take long). Bad experient for me at The Melting Pot. I vow to not mix and match that stuff again.

Overall, it was a good experience again at The Melting Pot. Bad ending, but good experience. After I left The Melting Pot, I had some time to wander around Legacy Village. I went to Ben & Jerry's to alleviate my nausea with a huge waffle cone overteeming with Phish Food. I felt better after eating all that sweet ice cream to balance out the spicy mixes of food. I went home a short time after that. Maybe I will go back to The Melting Pot before I go and try some of that awesome chocolate fondue, which is that they REALLY specialize in. That chocolate is so good especially with pineapples and strawberries and marshmallows, oh my!

That is about it for my recent experience at The Melting Pot. I hope that my experience entices and not repels anymore from attending and experiencing themselves. I still feel comfortable eating there and it is still one of my favorite. I encourage you to explore and to not be afraid of the exotic even if it takes a toll on you.

Being bold and trying new things,
Hasani Wheat

Class of '10