One of the exciting things about fondue parties is that they encourage conversation and mingling because guests are concentrated around a communal bowl cooking together.
How Much Food?
Most fondue recipes make 4 to 6 servings – so 3 pots of cheese, meat, and dessert fondues will feed 12 to 18 people.
Another way to determine how much food you will need at your party is according to how much food an average person can eat:
- 1/3 to 1/2 loaf of French bread
- 8 ounces of meat
- 8 ounces of seafood
- 4 to 6 ounces of cheese
- 8 ounces of vegetable
- 8 ounces of fruit
So figure about 1 to 1.5 pounds of food per person
Use the Right Pot
Ceramic pots are best for cheese, chocolate, or other dessert fondues where dipping is involved.
Metal fondue pots are great for oil, wine, broth, or beer fondue recipes in which the bits of food are cooked within the pot.
A combination of pots is a practical way to make the most of your fondue festivities.
Cooking
Always cook your fondue on the stove beforehand and never let your fondue boil in their pots under tea lights or other heating methods. This will only make the fondue mixtures rancid and tasteless. Let the mixtures simmer under tea lights or cooking gels just enough to keep warm.
Have a Few Courses of Fondue
Traditional fondue parties start with cheese, continue with meat and then follow with a dessert. Don't feel bound by these traditions, but it's a good idea to have several types of fondue to please varying tastes.
If you want to experiment with making your own cheese recipe, make sure you melt cheeses of the same family, or textures together so they melt and blend evenly. Check www.cheese.com for an excellent list of cheeses and textures.
Arrange the Fondue Tables
Set up different fondue stations or tables for each different fondue. For example if you have 3 types of fondue you could arrange 3 small tables, or one long table. Design and decorate around each type of fondue.
Timing the Fondue
Fifteen minutes before your guests arrive is a good time to take the fondue sauces from stove and place in fondue pots.
Fondue Etiquette
You many want to demonstrate these techniques to your younger guests who are new to fondue.
- The fondue fork shouldn't touch your mouth – pull off the food onto provided plate.
- Double-dipping is not allowed.
- Don't dip with your fingers.
- If you lose your food in the pot leave it there and remove it out with a teaspoon.
Fondue Party Themes:
You can throw a fondue party from any part of the world. Get creative with your fondue dishes and ideas.
- Mexican – Add a teaspoon of pureed jalapenos, or a teaspoon of pureed salsa to a basic cheese recipe. Don't add the worcestshire sauce to this variation of the cheese sauce. Cut up chunks of chorizo sausage for dipping into hot oil. Use paper towels to blot excess oil on meat. Serve with Margaritas.
- Greek – Add feta cheese to the basic cheese sauce recipe. Cut up lamb cubes for the hot oil and serve with a tzatziki dipping sauce. Serve with Ouzo wine.
- Italian – Cut up Italian sausage for cooking in hot oil and use paper towels to blot excess oil from cooked meat. Use marinara for dipping sauce. Serve with red or white Italian wine.
Try these various costume ideas for your fondue parties:
- Retro Fondue – Dress in your favorite '70s style, play the associated tunes, and dig out that old avocado green fondue set for a traditional fondue of meats, cheese, and chocolate.
- The Cold Winter Blues – Tired of the weather? Turn up the heat, put on your Hawaiian shirt, and grab the suntan oil! Serve plenty of pineapple, papaya, and kiwi for dipping.
- Back in Time – Dust off your Renaissance Faire costume and brush up on your early modern English. Serve wine in goblets and ale in earthen mugs.
 |
