See, you take one of these grills...
And you put slices of Raclette cheese on the little plates inside until it's melted. When the cheese has melted to your desired level of gooeyiness, you scrape the cheese on top of meats, potatoes, and any other goodness you'd like. Add some wine and voila... it's a party. Hence, Raclette Party.
Papa's Wife loves a Raclette, and when she phoned on Friday to invite us over on Sunday for her first Raclette of the season, I knew that she had been swept up in the Christmas spirit. And get this, besides partaking in the deliciousness that is the Raclette, Papa's Wife wanted us (us as in Brother-in-Law, Child Bride, The Husband, and me) to help build the little rock walls for her Christmas creche. RSVP yes thank you very much.
Raclette + Xmas creche building = holiday family fun time
Raclette + Xmas creche building = holiday family fun time
So The Husband and I picked up Child Bride and headed over to Papa's House. Papa and Brother-in-law would be joining us later. After they killed a wild boar. Because apparently, Wild Boar Hunting > Raclette.
We were greeted by a smiling Papa's Wife and a table setup with all the Raclette goodness... meats, slices of the Raclette cheese; both natural and fumé, plump cherry tomatoes, potatoes, cornichons, pearl onions, and of course wine. I felt gleeful. I was picturing my stuffed self tipsily (but ever so deftly) constructing a mini Provencal rock wall for the creche. Like I said... holiday family fun time.
But then the Grinch that stole Christmas happened. Or more precisely; the Papa that stole my holiday family fun time happened. When Papa had heard that we were all to participate in the mini wall building, he threw a tantrum, and said that it was his favorite holiday thing to do and he wanted to do it all by himself. I guess Papa doesn't want to share his toys.
(OK, I don't know if he really threw a tantrum but it's fun for me to picture it in my head). I had to readjust my equation.
Raclette + wine = holiday family fun time
And so we ate and ate and kept on eating. And Papa and Brother-in-Law hunted and hunted and kept on hunting. Which was really fine with me because I didn't want to share my food. (I was totally bogarting the chorizo).
So the final math of this story is that four people (4 1/2 if we count la petite in Child Bride's belly) can eat Raclette for six. But I can't figure out that equation.
Math + Me ≠ Friends
And did you notice that I typed la petite and not le petit?
Oh what a fun time Sara! Yeah, I heart Raclette too...times 1000 - it's on my list of best French inventions EVER :) (at like #2)
ReplyDeleteMelted cheese + meats was really all anyone had to say!
And congrats to the Child Bride - imagine it's a petite girl then, tres cool :)
Oh my, I also heart Raclette!! I had it for the first time in the summer last year, when visiting friends in Switzerland!! They were oh so kind to introduce me to this yumminess in 25degree weather :)
ReplyDeleteSara,
ReplyDeleteAnd these are the great things about being surrounded by Frenchie family. I think you know I coeur raclette aussi!
mmmwwa,
a
(that was a smooch)
I just discovered these amazing trucs, me and my roomies have been to leclerc quite a few times to look at prices! WE might give it to ourselves for xmas...
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had fun - yum!!
I guess that means their will be a new niece soon!
ReplyDeleteRaclette sounds delicious and something I will have to investigate.
The other day I asked our Woolies fruit and veg man why he didn't have rocket and some fresh herbs in store...his answer...our town was still in the 1980's food wise and so he would just have to throw it out! Don't think we have quite caught up with Raclette!!!!
The only thing better than la raclette party is...well, I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteI heart raclette big time!
Watch it! The kilos cling quickly and easily. Any wild boar next?
ReplyDeleteI love raclette too and your post reminds me its time to heat up the grill and have raclette. By the way, did the hunters get a sanglier?
ReplyDeleteHow, how, how, have I never heard of this Raclette??!! Something that melts cheese to smother on other things (maybe more cheese?) Williams Sonoma, you have failed me.
ReplyDeleteAt least now I have been properly informed..
And, as an aside, I was seriously laughing at the math..why? Because I am in the middle of studying for my stats exam and math is funny to me right now, mainly because I hate it with the fire of 1,000 suns. Which is funny.
Awesome post = Sarah B laughs = Better day today studying (If A = B and B=C then A=C by transitive property...)
Raclette is my absolute all time favorite!!! I ran to get a raclette gril after our first dinner party where we had it. I could eat it every night I think :)
ReplyDeleteMmmmm. French delisicousness! Raclette sounds similar to fondue here, yes?
ReplyDeleteRaclette is the most amazing meal EVER. I think I could eat raclette at least three times a week! Raclette makes the already fun holiday season even better :)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm just hungry. I love your equations. Very funny. :)
ReplyDeleteAhhh! You stole my blog post (LOL), which would have added that the raclette meal is one the whole family (The frog, his tadpoles and myself) enjoys. Plus it's so easy...
ReplyDeleteI've never had raclette but now I NEED it! Raclette + wine sounds like double the fun :)
ReplyDeleteI could kick myself for being too timid to order raclette in Paris...I did the boring thing and got fondue instead because I wasn't sure how to eat raclette. What a sissy!
ReplyDeleteNow that I know how it's done - thanks to you - I guess I've got to book another flight and go get me some gooey cheesiness!
Adrienne
raclette, and fondue are my favorite french foods, especially when skiing!
ReplyDeletexxx
As always you are a hoot!
ReplyDeleteyes. when i was studying in aix and we visited strasbourg we ate this...SO GOOD.
ReplyDeleteI first discovered raclette when I was in France, and fell in love! I don't think there is a better combo than raclette and wine!!!
ReplyDeleteah yes. Easy to make when company comes over and perfect for winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment. I was reading your about me and oh, how adventurous you're! I would love to meet the love of my life and move to a foreign country just like you did.
ReplyDeleteThat Raclette sounds delicious...
Xoxo,
Ana*
A whole contraption dedicated to melting cheese to the desired gooeyiness?? I will most definitely have to invest in one of these..
ReplyDeletei love the delicious smell fixed on your clothes after a raclette partie too ! mmm old cheese.... With gerkins it's amazing : and tomatoes do you taste with tomatoes .... Je veux une raclette qui pue !
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this... but it looks and sounds fabulous!! I just love anything cheeeeeeeese!! yum yum. : )
ReplyDeleteOmg I need me one of those!! It sounds heavenly!!! Too bad Papa had to be a mega five year grinch. Someone needs to give him some coal for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOh me and math aren't friends either. We have a tenuous peace agreement right now as I have to help kids with math everyday. Blech.
Sounds like you had a fun time. Does Papa read your blog... Time for a Reclette party! Your posts are so much fun!
ReplyDeleteMimi
Oh Gosh, cheese has to be my fave food in the WORLD, I think I just found my new must have kitchen gadget. =) Thanks for sharing this!!
ReplyDeletep.s. Let me know how that curly shampoo works out for you. =)
OK, Sara, for those of us on the other side of the "pond"... we need more information.
ReplyDeleteWould a grill that one uses for pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches work? One could put cut pieces of cheese on it and let them melt, or do I need to start surfing for the right pan?
What kind of cheese?
sounds rub-on-your-hips good!! thanks.
so hungry. i can barely move.
ReplyDeletesweet post, as always! xo
i love raclette too! it's esp good in the winter, with friends (and not alone!!)
ReplyDeleteRaclette=awesomeness Not having to waste valuable eating time building creches=even more fun. I'm jealous!
ReplyDeleteI love raclette! we started the season really early this year, I can't count anymore how many times we have been eating that. And tartiflette.. have you tasted that? It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteYummm raclette! Have you ever had one made in one of those medieval looking things? I had it at a restaurant a few weeks back and they stick the whole wedge on a big metal spike that looks like it doubles as a torture device, and you put it up to the fire...fun but le dangerous, especially if your wine glass is directly next to it like mine was...we're having our first tartiflette of the season Friday and are inviting people too, even though I also do not like to share my food. Anything with melty cheesy goodness and meat and wine = win.
ReplyDeleteWhat's a creche?
I <3 raclette too!!! Did you drink copious amounts of white Savoie wine? It really helps with the digestion. Whatever you do though don't drink water!!
ReplyDeleteMelt-y cheese-y goodness?
ReplyDeleteHow have I not heard of this before!?!
TO THE MARKET!
I'm a raclette addict! loved going to dinner parties where this was served. can't find it here in florida though. will have to wait until next may in swissie to binge on the delicious raclette(:
ReplyDeleteYou know I am all about the cheese, so this sounds like a dream night out to me.
ReplyDeleteHowever. Problem:
I'm like a Labrador, I don't have the mechanism in my brain that says "stop eating cheese or you will be sick and/or die". Hence why I have a self-imposed ban on Raclette and Fondue Parties.
I have fondued too hard in the past.
And paid the price.
PS - Maths is for people who don't know how to use the calculator on their phones.
True story.
xx
Mmmmm sounds yummy. But what kind of math is wild boar hunting > raclette? Clearly they are the ones that need to get back to math class.
ReplyDeleteoh yum! I want some! We're thinking of taking a trip to Switzerland next week and I want to try raclette so bad now :)
ReplyDeletemmm I love Raclette too, though I have never seen this fancy grill for parties. I generally buy the cheese & put it under the broiler in my oven and serve with mini potatoes. yummm
ReplyDeleteHa ha... very cute post. Sounds yummy!
ReplyDeleteI adore raclette!! Lots of butter for me, please:).
ReplyDeleteAwww, I miss Raclette. I actually miss Switzerland so much, it makes my heart ache. xx
ReplyDeleteawesome, totally did this with a friends a few weeks ago...SO YUM! definitely a long, leisurely dinner with lots of interesting conversations
ReplyDelete