40 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
T
hough the fondue craze enjoyed its biggest
heyday back in the 70’s when dinner parties
were all the rage, there’s a reason that
skewering pieces of food with tiny, long-
handled forks and plunging them into miniature pots
of molten goodness caught on like a house on fire. Now
enjoying a resurgence in popularity, after a brief hiatus
took it out of vogue until the early 2000s, fondue is
making people melt all over again…and The Melting
Pot is definitely turning up the heat.
Having started with the brand more than a decade
ago and working up from server to area manager in her
home state of South Carolina, Lucinda Hollis and her
fiancé Auburn Bridge were given the opportunity to
become franchisees of their very own location as part of
The Path to Growth program. Since taking ownership
of the Destin location of this popular franchise at the
beginning of 2017, Hollis and Bridge have been keeping
the pots hot, giving guests something that one won’t
find in traditional dining environments, making food a
more personally engaging, interactive experience that
naturally lends itself to intimate date nights, social
gatherings, and…did someone say ladies’ night?
“Dining with us is unlike anything else you’ll find
in Destin,” says Hollis. “It’s hands-on fun that really
encourages people to slow down, unplug for a couple
hours, and enjoy one another’s company. We want our
guests to play with their food!” she laughs.
And that’s certainly something that we could use
more of—taking the chance to unplug and connect
and play. It’s how we build relationships and create
friendships, and with events like their monthly Ladies
Night Out, The Melting Pot is giving women the
perfect reason to meet up and let their hair down.
Offering four courses of melted magic, the night begins
with creamy cheese melted tableside and served with
a delicious variety of artisan breads and fresh produce
story by
Liesel Schmidt |
photos by
Front Burner Photos
Dipping and Sipping
40-41 Swizzle The Melting Pot.indd 1
8/27/17 1:30 PM