Having a dad from the French Alps and a mom from Bordeaux resulted in spending my summers in France exploring the many charms and delicacies – cheese being a family favourite. 🙂 After a day of hiking in the mountains of Megeve, coming home to the chalet and making a cheese fondue from scratch was not uncommon. I treasure the memories of the 15 of us gathered around a large teak table dipping bread in a heavenly marriage of melted Gruyere, Emmental and Swiss cheese! And today, it is a memory that we love to re-create regularly – sadly without the view of the Mont Blanc! True French fondue is something that I would urge everyone to try at home. Not only for the cornucopia of aromas and flavours but for the opportunity to spend quality time in a relaxed environment with the people you love; no rush, no fuss. And the perfect excuse for taking advantage of places like The Cheese Boutique where you’ll find the same quality cheeses that you would find in France.
While I spent my summers in France, I spent the rest of the year in Montreal where cheese is just one fondue option – another favourite of mine is on the lighter side… the broth fondue. Over the past 10 years, fondue restaurants have become increasingly popular in Montreal and the perfect choice to spend a night enjoying food, wine and good friends. One of my favorite places is Les Fondues Forts – a little bistro about 15 minutes outside of Montreal. It’s a family affair with the owner, sister and Mom working together to make the perfect broth for a regularly sold out dining room. The menu is simple: You select your proteins of choice (chicken, duck, beef, veal, shrimp, scallops, salmon, swordfish), which are served with a baked potato, raw vegetables and 4 homemade sauces – and these are an experience in themselves. Ranging from Shallot Aioli to Garlic Curry to Honey Sesame, all are created daily. The night is slow and enjoyable as everyone cooks their own meal in the piping hot broth.
This past weekend, my dad and I decided to do a “fondue battle” – though it wasn’t much of a battle, as both were a hit! Check it out View the Vibe’s first Video Blog…. Happy fonduing! 🙂