History of Fondue

Swiss “Fondue” is a delicious way to while away a cold winter evening huddled around a pot of molten cheese, dipping in crusty bread & potato wedges and it is always served as the main dish, not an appetizer or as part of a multi-course meal.

“Fondue” is a melted cheese dish and means “to melt” from French verb “fondre”. “Fondue” originated in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. Each canton has its own variation on the recipe, which generally consists of at least two varieties of cheese, wine and a bit of flour or cornstarch to keep the melted cheese from separating. The fondue is served from a communal pot called a caquelon, using long forks to spear a cube of bread that is swirled in the melted cheese.

“Cheeeese Fondue”  –  a famous  traditional Swiss specialty became an international favourite  in the  late 1950s,  at European ski  resorts and  originated in the Alps,  mainly in and around the canton of  Valais (French) / Wallis (German).
…Some say it originated as an après-ski dish. Tired skiers found that a meal of crusty bread dipped in good Swiss cheese — along with a glass of wine or port — made the perfect finish to a hard day on the slopes.
Of course, origins of fondue date back further than the aprèsski crowd, it’s believed that cheese fondue was invented sometime during the 16th century.
….Some say it was developed as a way to use slightly stale bread.Swiss farm families needed to find a way to make cheese and bread that had been prepared in the summer last throughout the cold winter months. Melting the hardened cheese in warmed wine made it edible. Aged, crusty bread was the perfect dipper.
Thus, the classic Swiss cheese fondue was born…
Of course, fondue has become more sophisticated since the 1960s 😉 to reassure take a look at our Fondue.Wiki Cheeeese Fondues 😉

There are a number of different Fondues in western Switzerland and their chief difference depends on the cheeses used.  Very often,  two  varieties  of the same cheese  are used, for instance, a young and a well-matured cheese.
The choice  of  Cheeeses  is  of  the  GREATEST  importance  when  it  comes  to  creating  an  original    “Cheeeese Fondue”.   For a GREAT Fondue you must have a well-matured Swiss Cheese. Using the wrong cheese can result in a gooey stringy mess. A real fondue consists of cheese melted into wine to make a bubbly sauce.
Fondue from Fribourg is different from the Classic Neuchâteloise Fondue. Also in Fribourg, potatoes are sometimes used in lieu of bread. Fondue from Valais uses the local cheeses and hot milk to melt the cheese in. Fondue from Geneva sometimes has a handful of peeled, seeded and chopped fresh tomatoes added with the cheese. The chief thing to remember about a cheese fondue is that the cheese must cook over very low heat or it will become stringy. It must also be kept hot, but over low heat, so that it will not heat too much and become tough.

Secondly most important is the Wine followed by the bread.
White wine, which is always served quite cold,  makes the perfect accompaniment to Fondue.

Do you happen to know any other dishes that are as easy to prepare as fondue and that create such a convivial atmosphere???
There may be some….But who knows why Fondue is so popular! Our national dish is renowned throughout the world, which just about sums it up! The reason for its popularity is not only due to the ambiance, which is createdd but also because it tastes so good. It provides the ideal opportunity to meet with family or friends around a table and enjoy the pleasure of each others company. If there are a lot of you, the ideal solution is to prepare the Fondue directly at the table over the Fondue burners. This all helps to create the perfect ambiance!

Swiss “Fondue” is not just melted cheese with bread dipped in it; it’s an opportunity to gather some friends around while heaving a pot of bubbling cheeeese & a great time!

“Cheeeese Fondue”- is a retro food that I actually LOVE to eat on cold days – it’s warm, flavorful, yummy, and its gooey consistency seems to stick with you and warm you up from the inside! 🙂