My very first blog post. You know I have to start with food. May I present, the fabulous....Fondue!
It starts with a dream....What would I like to dip into melty, gooey cheese? Blanched asparagus? Steamed baby potatoes? Tiny perfect cubes of bread, wait! pretzels?? No, steamed cauliflower...yes. Oh fondue, you never cease to satisfy.
My first fondue took place on a magical night, at a magical place with yup, magical people. I was 11 years old, and lived in Orillia. I had a new and fascinating friend, Lisa. (Hey Norty baby!) Lisa lived in a renovated lighthouse. Seriously. Sunken living room, white shag carpet, a winding wrought iron stair case that lead to her (super cool) Mother's bedroom. That bedroom had 360 degrees of windows, as it was a lighthouse. I loved going to Lisa's for sleepovers. We had so many adventures, and laughed and laughed. And ate. It was also the first time I went skinny dipping. This bohemian family introduced me to so many things and ways of thinking. All innocent and thought provoking. Back to the fondue. I was invited for a sleepover at Lisa's, and had my little overnight case packed. (remember those? Still have mine.) Lisa and her Mom picked me up in their Pacer, even the ride over was fun! I knew we were having a fondue, but had never heard of a fondue before. Lisa told me it was melted cheese with bread to dip....I could hardly contain my excitement. Although I don't remember exactly what we ate, I do remember I loved it, and the whole night. The fire crackling away, long conversations and giggle fits. And melted cheese. That night left an impression on me. So much so, that when we were planning our wedding, Jonah and I planned for a winter wedding and honeymoon skiing in Mount St. Anne. Almost every restaurant had fondue. Dinner would take hours (yes!) as we talked and sang with everyone and had plate after plate of delicious things to dip and share. Fondues are not just great tasting, they have another wonderful purpose. You must eat slow. Dawdle. Waiting for each person to dip, waiting for new platters of food, refilling your wine glasses, maybe singing, but definitely, Talking. A fondue is not something to hurry, it's to be savoured with good friends, family and sometimes, complete strangers.
You may even have a fondue pot somewhere in your cupboards. Time to get it out. If you don't have a fondue pot, buy one, or better buy two. Oh, and get some fondue fuel too. Then swing by the store and get some cheese. Those packages of fondue cheese are fine, or you can buy the traditional Emmental and Gruyere. Grate it up, add some white wine, and melt it all down on the stove. (then transfer to your fondue pot) Other great dippers for cheese are cubed crusty bread, blanched veggies, pickles and whatever you can imagine. I always like to have another pot for seafood, and yet another for beef. Make some delicious sauces for the beef like mayo and horseradish, or garlic butter. Whatever you think would taste good. If you want to make it a spectacular night, melt some chocolate with cream (or Irish Cream if you are clever) and cut up fruit and berries, mini marshmallows, pound cake cubes or even rice crispy squares. I have hosted a few fondues lately, and have another planned soon. It's a good trend. The next fondue is with some of my cousins. We will have many fondue virgins present, so the night promises to be extra fun. If all goes well, and before the cops come, I hope to get some pics that I can post. Stay tuned for that.
