Take a Culinary Journey to the Place Fondue Started

By: The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. | 1 Shares 93 Reads

The Melting Pot Restaurants Takes You Back to the Birthplace of Fondue, the Alps

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Melting Pot fondue restaurants are getting ready to unveil a new menu featuring Alpine-themed dishes for a limited-time, starting September 19, 2009.

"This Big Night Out Alpine-themed menu takes The Melting Pot guests back to where fondue originated, the Alps. The menu includes basic ingredients of fondue from the birthplace of where it all started and highlights delicious recipes from oldeworld Switzerland, Germany and France," according to Chef Shane Schaibly, executive chef for The Melting Pot.

In spite of the current economic conditions, The Melting Pot continues to heavily invest in research and development for all of their limited-time Big Night Out menu features. Chef Shane Schaibly, along with The Melting Pot's executive leadership team, thoroughly test new menu items and solicit feedback from franchisees nationwide before implementing any new recipe. Extensive testing is done to ensure all of the ingredients are the highest quality items. While other restaurant chains are struggling to put out new menu items, The Melting Pot continues to add a new limited-time feature every six months.

While researching this new menu, Chef Shane Schaibly traveled to dairy farms in Wisconsin. "When going through the stages of creating this new menu, I spent a lot of time at the dairy farms and with the cheese makers in and around Monroe, WI where Roth Käse, our cheese supplier, is located. This menu would not be possible without the help of the Roth Käse team and all of the valuable information they shared with me", said Chef Shane. "Since they are a Swiss company in its fifth generation of family ownership, they had a lot to offer regarding the classic cheeses that were used in fondues that they remember from their childhood in Switzerland. I tried to listen to their suggestions and keep this fondue especially true to classic ingredients and flavors of the old world," said Chef Shane.

The first course of The Melting Pot's new Alpine themed Big Night Out is the Alp and Dell Cheese Fondue, a delicious combination of white wine, garlic, whole grain mustard and nutmeg with a smooth blend of award winning Gruyere, Raclette and Fontina cheeses. Guests are also able to choose from a variety of different dippers with this new feature cheese including cauliflower, summer sausage and cornichones. Following the Alp and Dell Cheese is the Alpine Ridge salad featuring a bed of mixed greens topped with oven-roasted tomatoes, Emmanthaler Swiss Cheese, hardboiled eggs and honey roasted almonds topped with robust shallot vinaigrette. The new entree course offers a choice of fresh meats and seafood including some new items like the apple wood smoked bratwurst, Hefeweizen marinated shrimp, roasted garlic crusted chicken, Sauerbraten NY strip and smoked Swiss and sun dried tomato ravioli. The new Alpine-themed menu also features a new horseradish dipping sauce that goes great with the roasted garlic chicken and the apple wood smoked bratwurst. For dessert, Chef Shane concocted a blend of seasoned apples, streusel toppings and spices to make the White Chocolate Apple Cobbler Fondue.

This new Big Night Out menu marks the first time that The Melting Pot Restaurants will be marketing their menu as a limited-time offer. Loyal guests and those that have never tried fondue are invited to The Melting Pot to try the new menu during the six-month period it is in the restaurants.

About The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc.

With 142 restaurants nationwide, existing locations in 37 states including the District of Columbia, and over 17 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. is North America's premier fondue restaurant franchise. At The Melting Pot, fondue becomes a memorable four-course dining experience where patrons can dip into something different. Guests enjoy a choice of four flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées combined with special dipping sauces. The menu also includes creamy cheese fondues, lively salads, fine wines and mouthwatering chocolate fondue desserts. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot's corporate headquarters are in Tampa, Fla.

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