I've been there twice before.
However, I still have tremendous reservations and massive trepidation.
Here's the deal. You are presented with a platter of totally and completely raw food. This includes veggies, but also raw beef, raw shrimp, and God Jesus Himself help us, raw chicken. Raw. Just right there on the fucking plate, raw dead animals of every kind.
Then you skewer your desired son of a bitch and roast it in broiling oil until your Jesus or your conscience says it's done, at which point you dip your seared flesh into a common pot of cheesy deliciousness and then consume. Hoping all the while that your meat was, indeed, cooked, and that you haven't just contaminated the pot of cheese that you will next dip your bread into.
If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.
I mean, how long do you boil chicken in hot savory oil? How long do you boil shrimp? The two are drastically different, and if you make a mistake, woe to your digestive tract. When is a slice of zucchini at its done-point, and when is raw cow seared enough to be safe enough to consume?
Plus, there's the fact that when you go there with friends, you are all eating off your skewers and then dipping them right back into the pot of cheese. I mean, I presume that laying your skewer in boiling oil kills off a herpe or two, but still, the skeeve-factor is there. Slurping food off a stick and then sticking your stick back into the common pot.
Not to mention, the bum-bum germs and raw meat germs that must be present at all times on every single surface around you, since people manhandle raw shit and don't give a damn. All blacklight-hotel-like:
I kind of can't believe I've ever been there. Not to mention twice. Not to mention I just bought a gift certificate for a third visit.
Except that it's fucking delicious.
I'm glad you made this post because I was planning to ask you about your recent purchase! :)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm drooling and thinking of some yummy Melting Pot fondue...
It's soooooo good, yet how does humankind survive the likes of it?!
DeleteI LOVE melting pot!!
ReplyDeleteI do, however, refuse to eat off the skewers. I use a fork to get the meat off and then use the form to dip in the sauces.
Good for you. Thank you for being a courteous Melting Pot guest. ;)
DeleteDitto to this. Skewers are for cooking, then I push it off onto my clean personal plate and nom with fork. It's too close to double-dipping.
DeleteNot to mention, they'll give uyiu like 3rd degree burns on your lips, 'cause they're made of metal and were just sitting in boiling broth (I just can't do the oil one) for at least 2-3 minutes.
DeleteI have never been there but I think I might have to go...the whole raw chicken on the same plate as all other stuff kind of freak me out though.....
ReplyDeleteOf all the raws, raw chicken is sooooooooooo by far the worst. Hell, I've even willingly eaten raw cow meat! And of course sushi ain't no thang. But there's a reason I break a sweat every time I have to handle or cook raw chicken.
Deletei've always wanted to go there, but haven't yet had the chance. i think i'd probably stick with the veggies and not try the meats. though, if i'm sharing cheese dip with my neighbor who's busy contaminating it up like a mofo, then i might as well just plop some raw meat in there too.
ReplyDeleteLOOOOOVE the Melting Pot, and all reasonable facsimiles. There's a place here in town called Fedora's social house that does fondue. The beer cheese fondue comes with pretzel bites and smoked sausage slices, and I'm salivating as I write this. And the dessert fonduessZOMG.... They have a Snickers fondue that is just ridonkulous. Served with grahams and strawberries and marshmallows...I end up dipping the marshmallow in the melty Snickery goodness and then make myself a S'more. Well...multiple. Not just one.
ReplyDelete