Save the smores for the campers, this season I recommend a hefty and portable fondue set. It’s the perfect addition to backyard gatherings or family game night. This appliance by Cuisinart is electric and comes with a 3-quart capacity and nonstick interior. The temperature is adjustable with eight settings to keep your creation warm and not over-cooked. The set include 8 fondue forks.
Visit: Cuisinart
A few summers ago while visiting friends in Geneva and Lucerne, Switzerland, I was treated by my hosts with a proper fondue. The Swiss take the dish and ingredients very seriously and while everyone has an opinion of the best way to make it, I was instructed and learned that the best cheeses to use are Le Gruyère and Emmentaler — I couldn’t agree more.
Here is a quick recipe. Put them in the pot in this order.
- 1 clove of minced garlic and rub the inside of the pot with a quality oil.
- Add shaved Le Gruyère Cheese
- Add shaved Emmentaler Cheese
- Pour in 1cup Dry White Wine – Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Tip: Continuously stir until the cheese is melted, smooth and creamy. Then add a splash of Kirsch and it’s ready. Serve with cubes of crusty bread like Tuscan loaf or a French baguette.
Check out your favorite cheese shop. I recommend the cheese section at Fairway Market or Zabars for in-store or online shopping.
Decadent and a lot of fun to make and eat, surprise your group with a chocolate fondue and seasonal fruits. I suggest Divine chocolate bars for melting. They have an assortment of bars from smooth dark with pink Himalayan salt to smooth dark chocolate with raspberries. For the fondue, I recommend their seriously smooth milk chocolate and exquisitely smooth dark chocolate. When it comes to making a fondue, I think best ingredients should be selected by the house chef. The skewers of sweet and ripe fruit will compliment a little bit of saltines and bitterness from the cocoa.
Shop: Divine Chocolate
