Eating fondue is both a social and a culinary tradition cherished during the cold winter months. Follow along to learn how to host the ultimate fondue party.
The essential tools
Whether you want sweet caramel or chocolate fondue or prefer ooey gooey cheese fondue, Weston Table has you covered with all the essential fondue tools. Spear your favorite fondue accompaniments—bread cubes, vegetables, fruit, or meat—and dunk your fork into pots of simmering caramel, chocolate, or cheese. The long-handled fondue forks work best for communally sharing a large pot of fondue. For bigger parties and longer tables, Weston Table offers individual cast-iron fondue pots to elevate your at-home entertaining. The Staub Mini Fondue Set is a Valentine’s Day gift to remember. Alongside melted chocolate, these dishes make a sweet treat for a romantic night at home and are the perfect way to say, “I’m very fondue you.”
Say cheese! The best fondue cheese
While you could not go wrong with chocolate or caramel, cheese takes the prize for the world’s most popular and cherished fondue. Choosing the right cheese for fondue matters. You will want a mixture of smooth-textured, creamy cheeses. Equal amounts of gruyère, emmenthal, and comté produce a creamy concoction worthy of a fondue party. A spoonful of kirsch adds a depth of flavor that makes it an authentic Swiss, cold weather recipe. Once all the cheeses are added to your pot, stir in a zigzag pattern so that the mixture does not form into a ball but, instead, becomes melted and creamy.
Top-tier dunking choices
For cheese fondue, select a mixture of top-tier dunking choices: bite-sized pieces of filet mignon, tiny peewee potatoes, blanched cauliflower, broccoli, and asparagus, cocktail tomatoes, green pears, crisp apples, and – the star of the show – bread cubes. While kitchen creativity is encouraged, we contend that the most important and not-to-be-missed fondue accompaniment is a crusty loaf of artisanal bread. Buy a loaf from your favorite local bakery and leave it on the counter uncovered overnight. The slightly hardened bread will not shrivel up when dunked into the hot cheese.
Wine pairing
The Swiss, the founders of fondue, contend that cheese should never be eaten without wine. A wine pairing elevates any fondue dish for those who choose to imbibe. Ninety Plus Cellars privately labels the world’s best wines and delivers them nationwide at affordable prices for consumers. While a light red wine would pair nicely with this dish, a crisp, dry, fruity white wine is preferred to complement the rich flavor of the cheese. Serve a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc for the ultimate fondue experience.
Fondue destinations
Take away the leg work by choosing to dine out at one of these premier fondue destinations. Ocean House’s Fondue Village in Watch Hill, Rhode Island and Chez Henri in Warren, Vermont both offer extraordinary and memorable fondue dinners. Open during the New England winter months, both locations fully embrace the après ski mentality. Ocean House’s Fondue Village mimics a cozy Swiss ski village and is home to three Vueve Clicquot gondolas with room inside for two to six people to dine on a menu of cheese and chocolate fondues. More formal but equally as magical, Chez Henri at Sugarbush Ski Resort has been serving skiers fresh off the slopes for over fifty years. The restaurant includes a massive wood fireplace and a full bistro menu and is a must-try destination for fondue lovers.
