Hello,
I have never had a fondue or raclette before but am interested I’m trying them when I go to Switzerland (Zermatt and St. Moritz). I was wondering if a cheese fondue served with bread and potatoes or raclette are considered an appetizer or a main meal or something else?
I seem to be getting different opinions when I search online
Thanks for your help!
The yummy meals we’ve had over the years have been served with small boiled potatoes if it’s raclette and bread if it’s fondue. Both usually come with something pickled like little onions and/or pickles. Occasionally we’ve seen an oil for raw meat dipping or cheese fondue on the menu. Occasionally we’ve seen a few more items than just bread for the cheese fondue, like apple slices. We bought both a raclette grill and fondue pots because we really like it, especially for an apres ski meal here. We did not buy a traditional raclette flame, scrapper apparatus like you might see in Swiss restaurants. Enjoy!
the youth hostel at Gimmelwald serves a very passable Raclette on their terrace, as does the restaurant at the top station of the Allmendhubel above Mürren. Main meal.
We consider fondue or raclette a main meal. Love it! Cheese and bread/carbs can fill you up pretty fast and then throw in the glass of wine or other beverage of choice, you are glad you walk everywhere in Europe. hahahaha.
Thank you for all of your help! I am looking forward to trying them!
Fondue is generally (always?) made for 2 or more. Raclette is a single serving.
We were served Fondue with small potatoes and liked it a lot.
We had both raclette and fondue in Charmonix on a RS tour. Dinner also included a charcuterie platter. I ordered red wine to go with it. What a fantastic meal. I was looking forward to having raclette in NY at a restaurant called Raclette NY. Sadly it just recently closed. So the hunt continues. Enjoy!
I am travelling there solo soon. Are there fondue servings for 1? Is it weird to order fondue for 1? I want to try it but I don't want to overwhelm myself or waste food.
@rubychai Look at some restaurant and hotel restaurant menus where you’ll be staying. Occasionally there will be a restaurant that offers a portion for “eine” person. On a Lauterbrunnen hotel menu I found online, the cost per person for two was 25CHF and 38CHF fur eine. Try it if you can find it on a menu, otherwise have a raclette for a yummy, melted Swiss cheese experience.
Fondue is not my favourite. Bread soaked in cheese is just too rich and filling.
Raclette on the other hand, is a feast of feasts. You can make up a "plate" of anything you like (various meats, vegetable, cheeses, and condiments) and cook them in the raclette machine.
I would consider both of them main meals.
The owner of a Murren hotel that I stayed at (one that Rick uses with his tour group), told me I shouldn't order fondue in the summer, that it was only meant to be eaten in the winter. Too warm for summer he said. When i asked him why he had it on his menu, he shrugged and said that the Americans wanted it.
In German speaking Switzerland, Fondue is indeed understood as winter dish. Restaurants have it on the menu for tourists, though.
In the French speaking part and the Valais, however, Fondue is eaten all year round.
