Quite a few of my clients are not from this area — (Gatlinburg is second only to Las Vegas for weddings in the US) — so I’ve decided to start a guide to some of my favorite places in the area to give the visitors ideas to have a good time. 🙂
The first place I want to share is The Melting Pot. If you’ve never been to one of these restaurants, you are missing out! There are actually two locations nearby. The first is located in Knoxville in the old city at 111 North Central St; Knoxville, TN 37902, and the second (much more recent) is in Gatlinburg at 959 Parkway Suite 2; Gatlinburg, TN 37738. The Knoxville location is actually where I drove for the first time as a license carrying teenager on my 16th birthday.
If you’ve never tried fondue before, you are in for a treat. Fondue is traditionally a melted cheese dish with food to dip in it, but it has expanded to include different types of dipped cooking styles. The Melting Pot offers 4 courses.
#1 Cheese — my favorite! There are several options, but I recommend the cheddar. Yum! With bread, apples, and veggies to dip into it, you won’t want to leave a drop behind.
#2 SaladAs with the cheese, there are several salad options. They used to have a mushroom salad that would make your mouth water, but they took it off the menu. My favorite now is the Caesar. It’s tangy with a hint of sweetness offered by the pine nuts.
#3 EntreeYou an choose one of 2 different main styles bourguignonne (oil) or boullion (vegetable broth). There are a couple of flavor options they offer to add to the boullion, but it’s great plain, too. You choose the type of bite sized meat pieces you want with the vegetables, and they have tons of sauces for dipping once your bites have cooked. Be sure to try the Green Goddess with your mushrooms and the teriyaki glaze with the meat!
#4 ChocolateThere are too many options here! Of course, you have your choice of white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, but they also have all kinds of mix-ins as well like caramel, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, or marshmallow cream. And, oh, the dippers… strawberries, chocolate brownies, bananas, cookie-encrusted marshmallows and more! Yum!
So… if you are looking for a fancy date night with your significant other, this is a perfect place for it. Dress up, have fun, get your nom on, and let the romance begin!
