Do You Fondue?

Usually for Valentine's Day I make Boeuf Bourguignon and the air is filled Edith Piaf. This year, at Max's request, we had fondue and Edith didn't join us. Nonetheless, the air was full of familial conversation and festivity. Fondue is such a fun, communal way to eat, it's a shame we don't do it more often.


We gathered around the cocktail table in the family room - no television - and enjoyed a basic Gruyere fondue with lots of things for dipping. It's soooo easy to make. Heat some wine, toss some grated cheese with a bit of flour and then slowly melt it into the simmering wine. All of about 5 minutes.




Probably the most time consuming aspect is the preparation of the dipping bits. I quickly blanched broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. The red carrots are a Green City Market score. The fingerling potatoes cooked quickly in a pot of boiling water.

I got those great Pillivuty porcelain fondue plates last year after Christmas. They were an amazing deal and lots of fun for this special meal. Definitely heirloom worthy.




Everyone dove in to the fondue with joie de vie. (can't leave Edith out altogether). We ate and ate, and ate, and ate and then ate some more until we were stuffed. Then we had to have dessert.



Bittersweet chocolate and cream. How can you go wrong?



A sweet way to finish this meal. Bananas, angel food cake and more of those lovely heart-shaped marshmallows. The kids loved bananas but I liked the marshmallows drenched in chocolate the best.

Then, of course, I heart marshmallows.