Customize this shareable appetizer at your next dinner party.
Fondue started as a meager meal option for 18th century Swiss families to stretch their paltry resources during the winter months. It became a tradition for farmers to melt their remaining cheeses, mix it with a bit of wine, and dip stale bread into it as they sat around the family hearth to keep warm each night.
Like many foods born out of necessity, fondue has since become somewhat of a gourmet offering. The meaning of fondue has been stretched beyond referring simply to melted cheese to now encompassing both broths and oils used to cook meat and vegetables as well as delicious, melted chocolate for decadent desserts.
There are a few establishments throughout Northern Nevada that offer the classic cheese fondue with their own modern-day spins.
At both Napa Sonoma in South Reno and Liberty Food & Wine Exchange in Downtown Reno, chefs are keeping the fondue simple. Napa Sonoma’s chefs specifically use Swiss and Gruyère cheeses to make their cheese fondue, which has long been a favorite shareable starter on the menu. And just like the Swiss always have done, the restaurant’s recipe calls for a dash of white wine (plus brandy).
There are a few secret ingredients that help bring out the final flavor profile of the dip, which is then served with sliced apples and French bread.
“We do have many guests who will substitute fresh vegetables to dip in the fondue,” says Nancy Karsok, general manager.
The Liberty Food & Wine Exchange version includes the same base ingredients as well. The classic cheese fondue focuses on the quality of simple ingredients to turn out a savory final product. It features three cheeses: Gruyère, Swiss, and white Cheddar. Chefs keep flour out of the equation in order to offer a gluten-free rendition, but they do add white wine and light spices.
“Adding some sort of alcohol helps to lower your boiling point and keeps the cheese more consistent,” Karsok explains. Plus, she adds, that’s how it’s always been done.
Much like at Napa Sonoma, the focus at Liberty is on bread and apples for dipping.
“We make a homemade pretzel twist using our brioche dough recipe,” says Carley Olson, social media manager at Local Food Group, the umbrella company that operates Liberty and several other area eateries. “We top this with Maldon sea salt. We also serve the pretzel with fresh apples to contrast the flavor and texture of the dough.”
If you’re ready to make fondue at home, you’ll want to be sure you have all the necessary supplies. Presentations of fondue work best with a fondue set that can be placed on the table and kept warm so the cheese doesn’t harden while you snack. However, if you don’t have a fondue pot, you can use a Crockpot, which is perhaps more commonly found in most kitchens.
Karsok says melting the cheese slowly is very important in achieving the right consistency. In contrast to the origins of the dish, high-quality cheese also is a must — not just any leftovers will do.
Olson suggests adding fresh nutmeg to your cheese fondue to create a nice depth of flavor.
“Don’t be afraid to make too much,” she says with a laugh.
Molten Meal
Want to expand your spread? In addition to bread and apples, consider setting out fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and bell peppers. With a little extra preparation, you can even make cheese fondue the main attraction at your next dinner party. Cook up some shrimp, meatballs, roasted potatoes, and filet mignon and cut each into bite-sized pieces.
Looking for other fondue options nearby? La Fondue in Incline Village serves three-course fondue meals; The Idle Hour in South Lake Tahoe pairs cheese fondue with wines and a view of the lake; Champagne & Chocolate in Reno serves cheese fondue (but not chocolate, surprisingly); and Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint in Carson City offers a black-and-blue shrimp fondue on the menu, featuring blackened shrimp and melted blue cheese.
RESOURCES
Liberty Food & Wine Exchange
100 N. Sierra St., Reno
775-336-1091 · Libertyfoodandwine.com
Napa Sonoma Grocery Co.
7671 S. Virginia St., Reno
775-440-1214 · Napa-sonoma.com
