The air is getting that nip at night indicating it's time to break out the fondue set here in Switzerland. Yay!
Is there anything that sets a more convivial atmosphere? Maybe, but I don't know what that would be.
Here is the recipe used, in the canton Vaud where I live, by just about everyone I know. Gruyère cheese is used of course and if it isn't AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) I swear Swiss people will know just by the smell!
Fondue Vaudoise
For four people
1 clove of garlic, cut in two
28.2 oz of grated or thin slices of Gruyère AOC cheeses (using different degrees of maturity)
4 tsp of cornflour
3.5 dl (11 - 11.5 oz I think) white wine (I use wine from the Domaine du Daley named Epesses)
1 tsp freshely squeezed lemon juice
1 small glass of Kirsch (small is defined by the person making it!)
freshly ground pepper
freshly grated nutmeg
Rub the fondue dish with the clove of garlic. If you want, you may leave the clove of garlic in the fondue dish.
Mix all the Gruyère together with the cornflour in the foundue dish, add the white wine and lemon juice. Bring to a boil while stirring continuously, until the cheese has melted.
Add the kirsch, season with the pepper and nutmeg and serve immediately.
I've learned that the secret of making a very creamy fondue is to leave the fondue mix to rest from 1 to 2 hours in chilled wine before the final preperation.
Local tradition here calls for a coup du milieu in the middle of the meal. Simply a drink break. Here beverages like kirsch, eau de vie (brandy), pear juice made from William pears - which I've never understood why that kind of pear only, calva (apple brandy) white wine, or grappa (plum juice)! I've seen people pour a bit of kirsch into a small glass then dip their bread in it prior to putting it into the fondue. Tried it, don't like it.
Don't forget, if the bread breaks off in the fondue, the offending person has to buy a round of drinks, if it's a man. A woman has to kiss the man sitting next to her left. Some use the rule that the offender has to jump in the snow wearing only their underware!
For me the best part is what's at the bottom of the pot...la religieuse (the nun. Nope, don't know why). It's the thin crust of cheese left in the bottom of the dish. Yum!
Is there anything that sets a more convivial atmosphere? Maybe, but I don't know what that would be.
Here is the recipe used, in the canton Vaud where I live, by just about everyone I know. Gruyère cheese is used of course and if it isn't AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) I swear Swiss people will know just by the smell!
Fondue Vaudoise
For four people
1 clove of garlic, cut in two
28.2 oz of grated or thin slices of Gruyère AOC cheeses (using different degrees of maturity)
4 tsp of cornflour
3.5 dl (11 - 11.5 oz I think) white wine (I use wine from the Domaine du Daley named Epesses)
1 tsp freshely squeezed lemon juice
1 small glass of Kirsch (small is defined by the person making it!)
freshly ground pepper
freshly grated nutmeg
Rub the fondue dish with the clove of garlic. If you want, you may leave the clove of garlic in the fondue dish.
Mix all the Gruyère together with the cornflour in the foundue dish, add the white wine and lemon juice. Bring to a boil while stirring continuously, until the cheese has melted.
Add the kirsch, season with the pepper and nutmeg and serve immediately.
I've learned that the secret of making a very creamy fondue is to leave the fondue mix to rest from 1 to 2 hours in chilled wine before the final preperation.
Local tradition here calls for a coup du milieu in the middle of the meal. Simply a drink break. Here beverages like kirsch, eau de vie (brandy), pear juice made from William pears - which I've never understood why that kind of pear only, calva (apple brandy) white wine, or grappa (plum juice)! I've seen people pour a bit of kirsch into a small glass then dip their bread in it prior to putting it into the fondue. Tried it, don't like it.
Don't forget, if the bread breaks off in the fondue, the offending person has to buy a round of drinks, if it's a man. A woman has to kiss the man sitting next to her left. Some use the rule that the offender has to jump in the snow wearing only their underware!
For me the best part is what's at the bottom of the pot...la religieuse (the nun. Nope, don't know why). It's the thin crust of cheese left in the bottom of the dish. Yum!
