Tiffany Haney
Hosting a cheese fondue party is a fun and interactive way to bring people together. Fondue is a Swiss dish that gained popularity in the US in the 1960s and involves melting cheese in a pot and dipping various foods into it. To host a cheese fondue party, you'll need to choose a fondue recipe, prepare the ingredients, and set up a fondue station for your guests. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Choose a fondue pot: You can use a traditional ceramic or cast-iron fondue pot, or go for an electric fondue pot that is easier to control the temperature.
- Select a fondue recipe: A classic cheese fondue recipe includes grated Alpine cheeses such as Gruyère, Comté, or fontina melted in a bath of white wine with nutmeg and Kirsch. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, liquids, and additives like jalapeños or Guinness.
- Prepare the ingredients: Grate your cheese, cut up your chosen dippers, and prepare any side dishes or appetizers.
- Set up the fondue station: Arrange the fondue pot in the centre of the table with plenty of skewers, plates, napkins, and forks for your guests. You can also create a festive atmosphere with music and decorations.
- Melt the cheese: Just before your guests arrive, start melting the cheese in the fondue pot. Add the wine and other ingredients, then slowly add the cheese, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Enjoy the fondue: Encourage your guests to dip their chosen foods into the fondue, following proper fondue etiquette (no double dipping!).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fondue pots | Depends on the number of guests. For a large party, have more than one small fondue pot or one large fondue pot |
| Skewers | Enough for each guest |
| Food presentation | Use large platters or wooden cutting boards |
| Food variety | Bread, meat, fruit, vegetables, crackers, chips, pretzels |
| Food preparation | Cut/prep food the night before and store in the refrigerator |
| Fondue preparation | Heat wine, add garlic, slowly add cheese, stirring constantly, season, add more wine if too thick |
What You'll Learn
Choosing a style: cheese, broth/oil or chocolate
Choosing a style for your fondue party is an important first step. The three main styles are cheese, broth/oil, and chocolate.
Cheese fondue is the classic option and a good choice if you're making just one type of fondue. The traditional recipe involves rubbing a garlic clove around the pot, melting Alpine cheeses (Gruyère, Comté, or fontina) in a bath of white wine, and finishing with freshly grated nutmeg and Kirsch. You can also experiment with different ingredients like hard cider, cheddar, and pilsner, or jalapeño. Just be sure to choose cheeses that melt well, such as pepper jack and Gouda, and avoid grana, haloumi, or fresh or soft cheeses. Don't forget to serve it with plenty of dippers like day-old bread, pretzels, apple or pear slices, roasted potatoes, cornichons, and cured sausage.
If you want to offer a more savoury option, broth/oil fondue is a great choice. This style involves cooking raw items in a simmering pot of oil or broth. Peanut or canola oil and broth flavoured with onions, herbs, dried mushrooms, ginger, garlic, vinegar, or citrus work well. This style of fondue is a fun way to showcase your homemade stock and get creative with dipping sauces. Popular dippers include shrimp, chicken, steak, sausages, ravioli, and any type of vegetable.
For a sweet option, chocolate fondue is a versatile and indulgent choice. You can use traditional white, milk, or dark chocolate, or get creative with coconut cajeta, nut butter-infused riffs on Nutella, or espresso infusions. Opt for the highest-quality chocolate you can afford to make it extra special. This style of fondue is perfect for dessert, with dippers like cubed pound cake, marshmallows, graham crackers, strawberries, banana slices, and pretzels.
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Prep time: at least six or seven hours for more than five people
Planning a cheese fondue party for more than five people? It's not as easy as it seems, so allow at least six or seven hours for prep time.
First things first: the shopping. Make sure you buy the best-quality ingredients you can afford. For the cheese, that means heading to a specialist cheese shop and picking up a selection of cheeses that melt well, such as Gruyère, Comté, Emmental, fontina, Gouda, or Swiss cheese. You'll also need some wine to add to the fondue – a dry, high-acid white like a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, or unoaked Chardonnay is best.
Next, think about the dippers. Bread is a classic, but go for a variety of colourful vegetables too, such as carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. You could also offer cured meats, like prosciutto, or fruit, such as apples or pears. Chop any vegetables and cook any meats the night before and store them in the fridge, ready to be arranged on platters or wooden boards before your guests arrive.
Finally, on the day of the party, give yourself plenty of time to grate the cheese and warm the wine and cheese through in your fondue pot before your guests arrive.
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Fondue etiquette: no double dipping, no fondue forks in mouths
When hosting a cheese fondue party, it's important to remember the rules of fondue etiquette to ensure your guests have an enjoyable experience.
Firstly, each guest should receive their own fondue fork and a regular appetizer fork, along with a small plate. It is considered poor etiquette to eat directly from the fondue fork—instead, guests should use the fondue fork to dip their food, place it on their plate, and then use their regular fork to eat.
One of the biggest no-nos of fondue is double-dipping. To avoid this, guests should use separate serving plates or utensils for individual dipping.
As a host, you may want to gently remind your guests of these rules before you begin, especially if they are unfamiliar with fondue.
Additionally, it's important to provide a variety of dippers for your guests to choose from. While bread is a classic option, you can also offer vegetables, cured meats, and even fruit.
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Dippers: bread, meat, fruit and vegetables
When it comes to dippers, the options are endless! Here are some ideas for bread, meat, fruit and vegetable options to dip into your cheese fondue:
Bread
- French bread
- Baguette
- Sourdough
- Pumpernickel
- Pretzels
- Crackers
- Chips
- Pretzels
Meat
- Cooked ham or turkey
- Grilled beef or chicken
- Sausage
- Salami
- Cured meats, such as prosciutto
- Bacon
Fruit
- Apples, especially tart varieties like Granny Smith
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Cherries
Vegetables
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Asparagus
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Cornichons
- Cucumber
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Drinks: beer, white wine, prosecco, bourbon, pinot noir, milk stout or porter
When it comes to drinks for a cheese fondue party, there are a few options that perfectly complement the rich and indulgent nature of the dish. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Beer
Beer is a versatile beverage that pairs well with both cheese and chocolate fondue. For cheese fondue, opt for lightweight beers like a Kolsch, a pilsner, or a New England IPA. These styles of beer will complement the cheese without overwhelming its delicate flavour. On the other hand, if you're serving chocolate fondue, consider a heavier and more robust beer such as a milk stout or a porter. The sweetness and intensity of these beers will balance the richness of the chocolate.
White Wine
White wine is a classic pairing for cheese fondue, and for good reason. The crisp, dry varieties such as Swiss Chasselas, Chignin, or Roussette from Savoie are excellent choices. However, these wines can be difficult to find, so other options include Muscadet, Chablis, dry Alsace or Austrian Riesling, or a young Grüner Veltliner. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, go for a Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, or an unoaked Chardonnay. These wines will cut through the richness of the fondue and provide a refreshing contrast.
Prosecco
Prosecco, the crisp and refreshing Italian sparkling wine, is a perfect match for cheese fondue. Its light bubbles and affordable price make it an excellent choice for a party. Prosecco will elevate the fondue experience without breaking the bank.
Bourbon
If you're looking for a spirit to pair with your chocolate fondue, bourbon is an excellent choice. The natural sweetness of bourbon whiskey creates a rich flavour combination that will delight your taste buds.
Pinot Noir or Dessert Wine
When it comes to pairing wine with chocolate fondue, pinot noir or a dessert wine is the way to go. These wines have the right amount of sweetness and body to stand up to the intense flavours of the chocolate.
Non-Alcoholic Options
If you're looking for non-alcoholic beverage options, there are a few choices. You can offer your guests herbal tea, which is traditionally paired with fondue in some regions. Another option is to substitute the wine in your fondue recipe with chicken or vegetable stock, which will provide a similar flavour profile without the alcohol.
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Frequently asked questions
Good dippers for cheese fondue include bread, apples, vegetables (raw or cooked), meat, crackers, chips, and pretzels.
You can use a ceramic, cast iron, or electric fondue pot. If you don't have a fondue pot, a double boiler or heavy-bottomed pot set over tea lights works too.
Good cheeses for fondue include fontina, Gruyère, gouda, Swiss cheese, and cheddar. Make sure to grate the cheese instead of chopping it for smoother fondue.
Beers like Kolsch, Pilsner, or IPA, and white wines like Riesling, Chenin Blanc, or Gruner Veltliner pair well with cheese fondue. You can also serve cocktails like Manhattans or Martinis.
To make cheese fondue, rub a garlic clove around the pot, melt your chosen cheese(s) in a bath of white wine, and finish with fresh-grated nutmeg and Kirsch (cherry brandy).
