If you read my last article on The Melting Pot, you know I’m a big fan of them. So I’m glad to see they are a part of OC Restaurant Week 2013, February 24 through March 2, 2013. It’s not just a date place. Have fun and go with a group of friends. Fondue is just a fun concept. Lunch and dinner menu offerings are really good deals so you don’t want to miss out on it. Let’s take a look:
The OC Restaurant Week Lunch Menu is $20 per person (excludes tax and gratuity, but includes iced tea, soda, or coffee.)
Option One has 3 courses:
- Cheese Fondue with a choice of Cheddar, Spinach Artichoke, Wisconsin Trio, or Fiesta
- Salad with a choice of California, The Melting Pot House, Caesar, or Spinach Mushroom
- Chocolate Fondue with a choice of Flaming Turtle, The Original, Yin & Yang, Chocolate S’mores, Cookies n’ Cream Marshmallow Dream, Bananas Foster, or Pure Chocolate
Option Two has 2 courses:
- Salad with a choice of California, The Melting Pot House, Caesar, or Spinach Mushroom
- Fondue By You Entrée with a choice of three items including Teriyaki, Marinated Sirloin, Atlantic Salmon, Honey Orange Duck Breast, Pacific White Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Citrus-Infused Pork Tenderloin, All-Natural Breast of Chicken, Chicken Potstickers, Spinach & Artichoke Ravioli, or Wild Mushroom Sacchetti. It is accompanied by a vegetable medley with a variety of dipping sauces and your choice of cooking style: Court Bouillon, Mojo, Coq qu Vin, Bourguignonnne ($5.95 extra).
The OC Restaurant Week Dinner Menu is $30 per person (excludes tax and gratuity).
- First Course is a choice of cheese fondue or salad (pick from the same choices as the lunch menu).
- Second Course is Fondue By You Entrée (pick from the same choices as the lunch menu).
- Third Course is Chocolate Fondue (pick from the same choices as the lunch menu).
Happy Hour Cocktails are served all night long:
- $5 Well Cocktails
- $9 Three-Course Wine Flight
- $6 Select Cocktails (Martini, Lemondrop, Cosmopolitan, Margarita, or Mojito).
Here are some tasting notes on some of items:
Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue is Fontina, Butterkäse and buttermilk bleu cheeses with white wine, scallions and a hint of sherry. This fondue has a wonderful strong flavor from the bleu cheese, yet will be gooey and creamy. It also has a few subtle notes of slightly bitter, nutty, and buttery. I love it! Thumbs up, way up!
Spinach Mushroom Salad is fresh spinach, baby Portobello mushrooms, red onion, chopped bacon and Roma tomatoes with warm Burgundy Shallot Vinaigrette on the side. This is the best salad they have on the menu. The spinach, mushrooms, red onion, and bacon are superb together, but once you add the vinaigrette, it becomes orgasmic! It enhances all the flavors making every ingredient shine in its own little flavor explosion. It’s quite unlike any other salad I’ve had on the menu. You have to try it! Thumbs up, way up!
For the Fondue By You Entrée, I chose the Teriyaki-Marinated Sirloin, Pacific White Shrimp, and Wild Mushroom Sacchetti with the Bourguignonne cooking style. I know frying isn’t the healthiest, but it is clearly the best way to enjoy the natural flavors of the meats and vegetables. The three items I chose are fabulous with out the batter – the teriyaki was just slightly sweet, the shrimp was crisp and sweet, and the sacchetti was perfect with its potato crisp flavored wrapper. I used the sesame and tempura batters for the vegetables for crispy, yet puffy delights. The potatoes are just fine without batter so they turn out golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. Just keep watch as this method cooks everything very fast. Thumbs up, way up!
Bananas Foster is bananas and a hint of cinnamon swirled in white chocolate creating the fondue version of this classic dessert. And, we didn’t forget the heat as we flambé it tableside. The white chocolate flavor is very subtle in this version with a more caramel flavor punching out! It’s fabulous and tastes really good with the fresh bananas, strawberries, and cheesecake. The red velvet cake, brownie, and rice crispy squares would probably taste better with a milk or dark chocolate, but that’s just my preference. The flambé is definitely a show when the cinnamon comes into play, almost like a mini-fireworks show right at your table. Thumbs up!
The Melting Pot is taking reservations NOW! Don’t miss your chance at tasting all The Melting Pot has to offer at this amazing price! You can’t beat it!
Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 5 out of 5 stars
For more information:
The Melting Pot
375 W Birch St # 1
Brea, CA 92821
714.671.6000
Website
The Melting Pot
2646 Dupont Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
949.955.3242
Website
For more information on OC Restaurant Week, please visit their website for a complete list of participating restaurants.
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