Is there anything I can eat at The Melting Pot?

For those of you familiar with The Melting Pot restaurant (fondue), is there anything a 4-week post-op can eat there? I just got invited to a friend's birthday dinner, and I'd like to go because there will be some old friends there who I haven't seen in a long time. They want to do the "ladies night" special though, which 1) would be a lot of money to pay when I could probably only eat a few bites, and 2) seems like a minefield trying to figure out what I can and can't eat and figuring out how they cook things. I could just go and not eat anything, but seeing people eat chocolate fondue would be a cruel form of torture for me. Any suggestions?

Would they be willing to switch restuarants and choose a place that you could eat too?

I don't know how understanding your friends would be, but you could always go and not order anything. the meat trays there are amazing, and I'd be willing to bet if you had 1 bite from each person's plate.... that would be MORE than enough to satisfy you.

(I hear this is much easier for women to do than men so I say GO for it!)

As far as cooking, you actually do your own cooking @ the table so you can cook it as long or as short as you want.

Regarding the chocolate fondue at the end.  I'd think by the time that got there, you would be completely satisfied and totally unitnerested in the chocolate but I could be wrong.  :)

I've been to the Melting Pot several time since surgery...They do have a preparation that uses broth to "cook" the meats in, its not all heavy oil or cheese...However @ 4 weeks post-op, I think very little will be a safe bet, depending on what your surgeon & nut have opened you to eating on post op plan maybe shrimp in VERY small bites and chewed to mush, the vegies would be too crudite for you at this stage and probably the other meats too...Unfortunately I do not remember seeing any soups on the menu so you could have an alternative to the fondue...

You could go and just enjoy the company, or perhaps as previously suggested ask your friends to consider another nice restaurant that has more to offer in food choices for you...

Good Luck

Thanks for the information! I also love the Melting Pot. I've only been there once, but I sure hope to go again. :-)

My hubby, friends and I go there and I eat everything, from wine, to salad to cheese to the meat entree to dessert--it's awesome and fun (and good protein). Who knew dipping a chocolate-covered marshmallow in warm, liquid chocolate could be so good? LOL.

That said, the first time I went there after my DS was probably about the 6-month mark. I ate the cheese, went light on the bread and had some meat and dessert. I skipped the salad.

Some ideas: You CAN order from the regular menu. You do not have to get the special. You can cook your portion of the meat and take leftovers home with you and eat them the next day--no biggie.Since it sounds like there will be a group of you, maybe you can just enjoy the talking versus the food. Everyone will be so busy that they won't notice what you eat.

The ladies night special is a great price for what you get, even if you can't eat all of it. The regular prices are a lot more, so consider the ladies night a bargain. 

Enjoy!

Nicolle

Unfortunately, only one person in the group knows I had the surgery, so I don't feel comfortable suggesting we go somewhere else, especially since I think it's only fair that the person whose birthday it is decides where she wants to go.  I also don't want to be thought of as the weird one who can't eat in normal restaurants, because then I'll never get invited anywhere.  In fact, I've gone to quite a few restaurants already, but always somewhere where I can get nutritional info and plan what I'm eating in advance.  The "ladies night" menu is cheese fondue with raw veggies (can't eat yet), apples (can't eat yet, maybe skinless), and bread (pouch doesn't like), salad (can't eat yet), and chocolate fondue (imagine the dumping!).  I also won't be drinking, and know that everyone else will, and I'll be expected to pay for an even split of the bill, including the birthday girl's dinner.  I know I sound ungrateful, but I'm estimating this will cost me around $50.  I probably wouldn't mind paying if I could get a small bowl of soup, or if I was further out and could eat the salad and veggies (which I miss!).  I know I will have to cope with being "different" the rest of my life, and YES it's absolutely worth it.  I'm just afraid if I go there and see all the things I used to love, I'm going to start crying at the table.  I think it's just too soon for me.  Sorry this is so long, but this is the only place where I feel people will understand.

Honestly, I did not feel strong enough to deal with going out to restaurants with friends for quite some time, and I definitely did not tell anyone but my family about the surgery for the longest time. At only 4 weeks out, I could only eat purees and I also was very emotional from the hormones due to the rapid weight-loss phase. There is no way I could've handled this situation. I don't think there is anything wrong with making up some excuse and not attending. Soon enough, you will be able to go out without any issues to almost any place and any situation. Yes, you will miss out but there will be other opportunities and it's not the end of the world not to go. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself and your needs first, and if that is not going, then don't feel guilty about it.

Well, how about this.. make an arrangement with the ONE person who knows your surgery to eat off of her plate (you'll likely not be able to have more than a couple of pieces, and chocolate fondue is not likely to tempt you at that point).  You'll give her ten bucks or something, pay for your own drink, and the two of you can tell the rest of the party that you just got over a stomach bug and you can barely handle food right now.

Is there really NO meat on the ladies' night menu?

I believe that you can eat some shrimp from the menu. Also, The Melting Pot will allow you to substitute any of the meats for another one on the menu. Rather than do the entire Ladies Night menu, just buy a meat dish a la carte. I ate at the Melting Pot recently and they are so accomodating! Don't stress on it, enjoy yourself, pay for part of your friend's dinner and eat what you can. The nice thing about TMP is that meals take a long time, so it is easy to eat slowly. I am still only able to eat a few bites of meat from there, but I just cook all of the meat and take it home. It works great! Don't overthink this! Have a great time!