I'm sitting here doing a Netflix marathon of Mad Men (because I'm one of the few people who didn't watch it while it was actually on!), and I happen to be on the opening episode of season six.
Which is kinda funny, because you know what today is, right?
No? I'm the only odd one? Well then...
Ok, moving on...
April 11th is National Cheese Fondue Day.
So why is that funny?
In this episode, Don and his lovely French wife are having a get-together with their neighbors for New Year's Eve. As one of the ladies shamelessly hits on Don in front of his wife and her husband, guess what they are snacking on?
Yup, cheese fondue.
Talk about perfect timing. I just love it when the stars align, don't you?
Anyway, I've been trying to figure out a way to have a constant stream of content to write about on here when my words elude me, and I thought to myself, "self, this could work!"
See, once upon a time, I had a site dedicated to all of the weird holidays of the world, particularly of food holidays.
So I thought what the hell, I would see if anyone on here cares.
And if a Netflix marathon in the background as I write content for someone else aligning with the actual food holiday it is today isn't a sign, well then, I just don't believe in signs anymore.😏
Besides, what better day to start on than one all about cheese!
I don't know about you, but I cannot get enough ooey, gooey goodness. I can put cheese on almost anything. Eggs? Throw some cheese on it. Burgers? Throw some cheese on it. Fries? Throw some cheese on 'em.
You get the idea.
Unfortunately, my fondue set went wherever everything else I owned did when it was stolen. (That's a post for another day.) Because of this unlucky situation, I cannot whip some up to tantalize you with pictures and a delightful recipe.
What I can do, is bring you some of the best cheese fondue recipes I've found.
Which is even better. Because you know, choices.
What is Fondue?
First off, if you don't know what fondue is, then you are missing out. Since Wikipedia is smarter than me most of the time, I'll let them explain:
Fondue is a Swiss dish of melted cheese served in a communal pot over a portable stove heated with a candle or spirit lamp, and eaten by dipping bread into the cheese using long-stemmed forks. It was promoted as a Swiss national dish by the Swiss Cheese Union in the 1930s, and was popularized in North America in the 1960s.
These days, there are much easier ways than using a spirit lamp. Which is a good thing, because I don't even know what a spirit lamp is. If you would've asked me before this post, I would've likely guessed it had something to do with a séance.
Apparently, I would've been wrong.
Anyway, you can go to pretty much any department store and find all sorts of fondue sets. Some are electric, and some use heating elements such as your stove or a Sterno or something similar.
There are countless ways to create the fondue experience as well. You can simply melt cheese, or add some wine or cream, or get intricate with it. It helps to have a recipe, at least the first couple times. (No worries, I have you covered there!)
Once you figure out what type of dipping recipe you want to use, you can then figure out what dippers you want. After all, you aren't just going to be sitting around a pot with a spoon taking turns with your friends.
There are many choices, and experimentation is half the fun. Common accompaniments include bread and vegetables in a variety of forms, as well as other snacks. The Spruce has a wonderful list of the best dippers for cheese fondue if you want some ideas.
Now let's get to the yummy stuff. Here are some salivation-worthy recipes for you to try:
1 - Irish Whiskey Cheddar Fondue
You may think of beer first when you think of melted cheese, but Irish whiskey should be a near second.
Luckily, they know this over at Little Things.
They've shared a scrumptious recipe that goes together in a flash, which is especially good when you are enjoying the whiskey a little too much while you're making it!
2 - Cheese Fondue With Chipotle and Tequila
I overindulged in tequila way too much when I was younger, so I usually don't seek it out.
However, it can be a great addition to many recipes, lending a unique twist that takes mundane to marvelous.
If you have never had it with cheese, it's a must try for fondue lovers and newbies alike. This recipe by Viviane Bauquet Farre is a good place to start.
3 - Porcini Cheese Fondue
I agree with the author of this lovely recipe that those who think of the 70's when they think of fondue need to make another go of the dish, sans shag rugs and bell bottoms.
The addition of porcini is one that I have not thought of, but now that I see it, I must have it. Between that and the brandy addition over the dry white wine, I can only imagine the richness and robust flavors of this creation.
If you try it before I do, ya gotta let me know how it turns out!
For those of you that don't like mushrooms, leave 'em out for a scrumptious Alpine Cheese Fondue.
4 - Aged Gouda and Doppelbock Fondue
I love cooking with beer, and I have made my fair share of fondue created with different beer and cheese medleys.
When pairing the two, you want to make sure they complement one another instead of drowning the other out.
F.D. Hofer does this perfectly here, opting to match a rich German Doppelbock lager with an equally hearty mix of Gouda and Gruyère, then rounding out the richness with sherry.
5 - Mild Cheese Fondue Recipe
I know that not everyone has a palate that appreciates the stronger cheeses in life.
For that, I am truly sorry.
But I didn't leave you out; for you, too, can appreciate the joy of piercing your favorite finger food then dunking it in a steaming vat of gooeyness!
Don't those look ah-mazing?
All that's left for you to do is pick your favorite, round up some friends, and hope they're nice enough to let you have some!
If you like this post, please show it some 💖.
And if you are like me and enjoy useless knowledge that gives you a reason to celebrate 🎉 everyday like crazy food holidays do, hit that follow button under my name or @ambrosial.
Or you can learn more about me before deciding
in my Introduce Yourself Post. 📣
Other #FoodHolidays Posts:
I just started this, so there aren't many!
🧀 7 Grilled Cheese Recipes You Never Thought Of (But Wish You Had!)
🍑 If You Love Peach Cobbler, You'll Love This Post (Whether You're a Good Cook or Not!)
😋 6 Pecan Recipes From Fellow Steemians Guaranteed to Make Your Stomach Growl!
🌶 A Little Bitching With a Side of Sweet Thai Chili Ham
🍄 What do Baked Ham w/ Pineapple, Eggs Benedict, and Mushrooms All Have in Common?
I'm so happy to see people who still love fondue! It's incredibly addictive. Good luck on finishing your marathon. It's an easy show to get "sucked in" by. Great cast. Nice post and, of course, now I'm hungry. I found you through the #payitforward contest. You were featured by @wolfhart. Congratulations and best wishes.
I do! There are so many options with it; you could eat it everyday and have something different each time. I really need to get another set.
Mad Men is pretty good. It's different, which I like. I can't concentrate when it's quiet so when my usual classical music is having the opposite effect, I like to put Netflix on and just let it run. Which can become counter-productive when it's interesting 😏
Thank you for the congrats and for stopping by. I'm so honored to be featured in this contest, and am looking forward to doing my own post with some shoutouts to cool people later on today!
I'm excited to see some of your creative, culinary creations (alliteration is my new toy). I will keep an eye out for your posts.
Culinary creativity is my cunning craft lol thank you for purposely peeping my posts...(I think maybe I should stay away from alliteration) 🤣
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Oh that is so cool! Thank you!!!! I'm honored - and off to go check it out right now 😊
who would steel a fondue pot ?
I thought that fondue went out in the 60's
I love this post your my #3 for payitforward
A special kind of person I suppose. But, to each their own. Karma's a bitch.
A lot of people do. I love it though and most people that revisit it like it as well - there are so many variations like the cheese ones here, or you can do fruit with chocolate or another sauce, meats in more broth-like creations, the list goes on. There's a fondue for everyone lol
Thank you so much! I recently learned about those (I believe that's how I initially found you!) and wanted to look into it further to see if I was eligible to do a creation post because I have seen numerous posts on here that haven't received hardly any attention but deserve a lot more than most of the ones seen in trending. It looks like a great project and I am honored that I am your #3!! 😊
nice post that you did . and I will post it in about 10 min
Thank you
you keep it up
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Awesome sauce, thank you!
I've never specifically had fondue, but I have baked a camembert cheese until it was molten inside in order to tip into it, so I guess that's very similar!
Thanks for the informative article.
Yup, just grab some little forks and call it oven fondue! 😊
What a great post and who doesn't like cheese, I am excited to see so many variants out there for me to try. I am following you now as I look forward to seeing your future work.
Right?!?! 🧀 Thank you for the follow! I'd follow ya back but I already am - you had me with health advocate, animal lover, and anxiety! 😊
(Although I suppose with all this cheese you can't tell the whole healthy thing on my end at the moment lol)
haha, nothing wrong with a bit of protein, that is all cheese is right... lol...
Yup, that's what I'm going with! 😋
This was a great post, I have to start to watch the carb intake, so this with veggies a great snack idea for me.
I'm glad you liked it! Did you have a favorite from the ones I listed that you'd like to try first?
I'd like to try the ones with whiskey, but well I should not. But I can do my own melted cheese snack, I have always like a combination of pepper jack and sharp cheddar cheese over noodles, so just make the cheese sauce, skip the noodles and pour over some raw veggies like broccoli, and cauliflower. Add a little tyme sprinkled in just before the pour, and nice snack.
That. Sounds. Yummy.
I figured since you're watching carbs that the beer and whiskey ones would likely be out. But with fondue, pretty much anything goes and you can adjust any recipe for your needs.
I know a lot of people stay away from alcohol for one reason or another and while it will change the flavor, you can just leave it out and have a new creation that is just as good.
It's melted cheese, after all, so the only thing that could go wrong is burning it (or yourself with it since it's like hot molten lava! 😏
Ooh I don't like cheese but they look so sweet
You made a great post @ambrosial
Aaaaacccckkkk! You just broke my heart. 💔 Lol really? None of them? But there's so many choices!!😊
The good news is you could do a meat fondue with broth or a fruit one with some sort of yogurt or chocolate or other creamy sweet sauce...
So you, too, can fondue! lol (Now that was cheesy 😁)
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Hi @ambrosial! Nice to meet you! Mmmm cheese! Get's us off on the right foot!! LOL
What's your favourite combo(s) when it comes to fondue? I found your post very entertaining. My son is binge watch a series right now too. I used to to it (sort of.... 90's style!) When i was younger. Now, i binge steem. And, meditate!
Congratulations on having your post chosen by the @asapers!!! Keep up the great efforts.
😁🏵🌹💗🌸
Oh my goodness, one combination? I can't even imagine! It really depends on my mood. I really like making a full meal out of it, having blanched veggies and crusty bread with a nice rich cheese to start, then having meats cooked in a savory broth with dips on the side. I'm partial to beef for the latter, usually with mushrooms. There's just something about cooking chicken on forks in broth at a table that makes me kinda nervous lol - I've done it, and done it successfully, but it's still cringe-worthy at times.
I haven't done much with fruit, to be honest, but I have had it a couple times and it is really good. It's just usually after those first two courses, there's no room left for any more food. Especially if belts are involved 😋
I see you're a healing arts practitioner. I followed you and will be stalking you to see what you're up to! I got a nutrition consultant cert years ago and am finally working on my aromatherapy cert (even though I've been working with oils for about a decade now!) and am planning on working on my herbalist certs next. I've done yoga but not near as much as I'd like to. I love, love, LOVE Pilates, though.
I'm binge watching and binge-steeming myself at the moment...multi-tasking at its finest! 😎 Anyway, (now that I have written a book!) it's nice to meet you as well and thank you for checking out my post and commenting!
Oh! We have more in common than steem & cheese 😁 It's great to get to know you better! I can agree about the chicken. Looking forward to seeing you around 🌱🥑
Have a wonderful day!!
Hahaha! Yes, I can put cheese on just about anything too. Scrambled eggs are scrambled cheese with a bit of egg in it. When I lived by myself in my 20s, a favourite quick meal was tomato soup with some cheese in it. And when I say some, I mean fill up the bowl with grated cheese, then pour the soup over the top and stir till the cheese is melted. Then dip in toast fingers with lots of butter. Hey, that's pretty much a fondue, isn't it?
Yesssssssssss! I love what a ton of parmesan does when it melts - all of those clumps of flavorful goodness stuck to the spoon or fork...not exactly the picture of health but it is so good! Eggs too - even fried. I also make about 20 different kinds of deviled eggs, one of which includes cheddar cheese and bacon lol it's just so good on everything!