Fondue for Two on Valentine’s Day

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Romantic Meals for Two can be simple, grand, or, as in this case–pure fun. With Fondue you can spear, dunk, or dip delicious morels of food coated in luscious cheese or chocolate sauce.  The term “fondue” comes from the French verb fondue, meaning “to melt”; and if you plan your Seduction Meal just right, perhaps hearts will melt in your favor.

This recipe was shared by one of our readers in New York City–Cheese Fondue, a Swiss classic. “What makes 99% of the recipe is getting the right mix of cheeses. See below for the secret to great fondue”

fondue_savor_the_success.jpgSwiss Fondue
Serves four
 The quantity of cheese needed is simple to calculate: 
1/2 lb of cheese per person, (less for kids).

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Gruyere and 1 lb of Vacherin (total of 2 lbs, 4 x 1/2lb)
  • 1 cup white wine (dry)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • pinch of baking soda
  • 2 loaf of bread

The Cheese
The choice of cheese is the most critical aspect of making real Swiss
Fondue. You will need Swiss Aged Gruyere and Swiss Vacherin (Vacherin
Fribourgeois). Using other cheeses will change the taste entirely. I would add that
you can substitute the Vacherin with Appenzeller, and that in NO CASE
use Emmentaller, the cheese with holes. This cheese will ruin the
fondue by making it very oily

Bread
Not sourdough!! Too strong. Find a nice round white bread with thick crunchy crust. Cut in thick slices, do not cut in cubes, cut slices only a few minutes before serving the fondue, you do not want the bread to dry. People will break the bread slices in cubes themselves on their plate. (this is a Swiss tradition…)

Sides

  • Small cornichons (gherkins)
  • Cured meats: Brasiole (Italian dried beef), Prosciutto, etc…

Drinks
White wine, dry preferable. Alsatian wine works well. Not chardonnay, too sweet.. If your wine store has Swiss Fendant and it’s not over priced, then get some.

For non-wine drinkers, serve hot tea. Avoid cold non-alcoholic drinks during the meal. Cold drinks will harden the cheese in your stomach, you don’t want that. After the meal, serve a nice digestive, like Kirshwasser, Italian Grappa, or any other spirit, it will help digestion.

Fondue Pot
The best type of fondue pot is made out of cast iron with enamel coating. Do not use ceramic pots, they don’t propagate the heat well at all.

Fonduecaquelon fonte.jpgCook the fondue
If you cook for 8 people, use 2 fondue pots.

  1. Grate all the cheese in one big bowl, mix well
  2. Rub the inside of  fondue pot with garlic.
  3. Put fondue pots on the stove (medium heat)
  4. Add 1 cup of white wine to pot
  5. Add 1 tsp of corn starch  – mix well
  6. Add cheese
  7. Mix constantly and gently with wooden spoon until cheese is completely melted
  8. If fondue is still too thick, add a little more white wine, mix well. WARNING: DO NOT MAKE IT TOO LIQUID! Can’t undo!
  9. Light the burner on the table. Make sure everyone is ready to go! Fondue does not wait.
  10. Once all the cheese is melted and fondue is smooth, add a pinch of baking soda, mix, and bring fondue pot right away to table burner.
  11. Add black pepper to both bots and have everyone ready to dig! 

Serve immediately and Have Fun…that is what sharing Fondue is all about!