Fondue is a big pot of melted cheese that you dip pieces of bread into. Raclette is melted cheese that you pour or scrape over potatoes, often with charcuterie (sliced meats) on the side. The Swiss must really love cheese!
Both dishes were DELICIOUS! The cheese was warm, melty and full of flavor. I especially loved how fun fondue was to eat. Instead of eating from your own plate, everyone gathers around a pot of cheese in the middle of the table and dips their bread into it. It was such a fun way to share a meal with friends!
These dishes are especially popular in the colder months because they're warm and filling. I can just imagine how cozy it will be to share dinner and some melted cheese while snow is falling outside.
To make fondue, you melt different kinds of Swiss cheese together in a special pot. Cheese made in Switzerland can be sweet or nutty, mild or sharp, and more. There are hundreds of types of Swiss cheese!
You can add ingredients like wine to give it more flavor. Then, you use a long fork to dip cubes of bread into the cheese.
To make raclette, you heat raclette cheese until the surface starts to melt. Then, you scrape the cheese onto potatoes.
Did you know that Switzerland is famous for its mountains? A huge mountain range called the Alps stretches across 60 to 65% of the country.
During the summer, many Swiss farmers bring their cows high up into the mountains where they can graze on fresh grass.
