What’s extra, he produced just one chocolate fondue per day, and solely on sure days, for a celebration of six to 12, at a price of $19.50 per individual.
With almost 100 places throughout the U.S., together with 4 in metro Atlanta, the Melting Pot is among the many longest-running and most profitable fondue ideas.
As an undergrad at Florida State within the Eighties, I vividly keep in mind some awkwardly thrilling dates on the Melting Pot in Tallahassee. I later discovered that it was simply the second location in what would turn out to be a burgeoning franchise.
When it first opened in Maitland, Florida, in 1975, the Melting Pot menu provided simply three gadgets: Swiss cheese fondue, beef fondue, and chocolate fondue for dessert.
These days, although, you possibly can order all kinds of proteins and vegetarian gadgets served with seasonal greens, and you may put together your entree within the fondue cooking model of your alternative.
On the subject of making fondue at residence, the instruments are pretty easy. However particularly should you plan to prepare dinner uncooked proteins, similar to beef, rooster or shrimp, in broth or oil, investing in a stainless-steel fondue pot is your greatest wager.
For melting cheese and chocolate, a heavy ceramic fondue pot will make preparation and cleanup a lot simpler. Past that, some nonstick utensils, a stand with both an electrical or Sterno-style burner, fondue forks and napkins are about all you want.
If you happen to go large with a well-equipped fondue equipment, or cobble collectively a mixture of on-hand pots and pans, keep in mind that fondue is concerning the expertise as a lot because the meals. Add some comfortable candlelight, the sounds of cool jazz, and a little bit of bubbly, and also you’ll set the scene.
RECIPES
With a starter, a principal course and dessert, these fondue recipes will be made individually or mixed for a restaurant-style three-course meal for 4.
Basic Cheese Fondue will be served with charcuterie, roasted potatoes, sliced apples, crusty bread, gherkins and pickled onions. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Basic Cheese Fondue will be served with charcuterie, roasted potatoes, sliced apples, crusty bread, gherkins and pickled onions. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Basic Cheese Fondue
From Swiss winter traditional to the centerpiece of American fondue eating places, melted cheese pleases by merely dipping into it with bread or virtually something savory. Kirsch is a kind of brandy produced from cherries that provides some further taste to fondue, and is claimed to make the cheese extra digestible. If you happen to can’t discover kirsch, you possibly can substitute brandy or cognac, or just go away it out.
1 garlic clove, halved
1 pound Gruyere cheese, grated
1/2 pound Emmenthal cheese, grated
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon contemporary lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons kirsch
Freshly floor pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg
Rub the within of an enameled cast-iron fondue pot with the garlic clove and discard. Add the grated Gruyere and Emmenthal, mix with the wine, cornstarch and lemon juice and place on the range over medium warmth, stirring often, till the cheeses start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the kirsch and a beneficiant pinch every of pepper and nutmeg and prepare dinner, stirring gently, till creamy and easy, about 10 minutes. Set the fondue pot on a stand and lightweight the burner beneath, protecting the flame low. In case you are utilizing an electrical fondue pot, observe the producer’s directions.
Serve with crusty bread and something from charcuterie and roasted potatoes to sliced apples, gherkins and pickled onions.
Serves 4.
Per serving: 764 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 69), 49 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrates, hint fiber, 54 grams whole fats (32 grams saturated), 178 milligrams ldl cholesterol, 920 milligrams sodium.
Beef Fondue will be served with quite a lot of sauces (worldwide sauces for the meat fondue could embrace chimichurri, bearnaise, bitter cream and horseradish or peanut satay), mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, roasted potatoes and a easy inexperienced salad. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Beef Fondue will be served with quite a lot of sauces (worldwide sauces for the meat fondue could embrace chimichurri, bearnaise, bitter cream and horseradish or peanut satay), mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, roasted potatoes and a easy inexperienced salad. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Beef Fondue
Beef fondue is extra like campfire cooking than dipping, with tender, cubed items of tenderloin or sirloin plunged into scorching oil. Serve with quite a lot of sauces and accompaniments for a principal course.
1 pound beef tenderloin or sirloin, trimmed and minimize into 3/4-inch cubes
Salt and pepper to style
3 cups grapeseed oil, peanut oil or different vegetable frying oil
Toss the cubed beef with salt and pepper and convey to room temperature.
In a metallic fondue pot, warmth the oil on the range to 160 levels. Switch the pot to the fondue stand and lightweight the burner to keep up the warmth. In case you are utilizing an electrical fondue pot, observe the producer’s directions.
Divide the meat between 4 plates and organize dipping sauces across the pot, together with an assortment of mustards, if desired.
The meat ought to prepare dinner within the oil for 20 seconds for uncommon, 30 seconds for medium and 1 minute for nicely performed.
Serve with sauces (see recipes under), greens and a easy inexperienced salad.
Serves 4.
Per serving: 550 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 85), 21 grams protein, no carbohydrates, no fiber, 52 grams whole fats (13 grams saturated), 79 milligrams ldl cholesterol, 56 milligrams sodium.
Chimichurri Sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon crimson wine vinegar
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small crimson chiles, deseeded and finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Mix all of the substances in a small bowl. Enable to take a seat 5-10 minutes to launch all the flavors into the oil earlier than utilizing.
Makes 1/2 cup.
Per tablespoon: 72 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 88), hint protein, 2 grams carbohydrates, hint fiber, 7 grams whole fats (1 gram saturated), no ldl cholesterol, 293 milligrams sodium.
Fast Bearnaise Sauce
1 stick butter
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
1 massive egg yolk
1 tablespoon chopped contemporary tarragon
1 shallot, minced
Salt and white pepper to style
In a small saucepan over low warmth, soften the butter till effervescent scorching.
In a blender, add the vinegar and egg yolks and mix on excessive velocity for a number of seconds. With the blender nonetheless operating, take away the middle lid of the blender. Pour the new butter in a skinny, regular stream into the egg combination. Add the tarragon and shallot and proceed to mix. Add salt and pepper to style.
Makes 1 cup.
Per tablespoon: 57 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 97), hint protein, hint carbohydrates, hint fiber, 6 grams whole fats (4 grams saturated), 27 milligrams ldl cholesterol, 46 milligrams sodium.
Bitter Cream and Horseradish Sauce
1/2 cup bitter cream
4 tablespoons grated horseradish
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to style
Cayenne pepper to style
In a medium bowl, mix bitter cream, horseradish, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Refrigerate till able to serve.
Makes 3/4 cup.
Per tablespoon: 23 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 71), hint protein, 1 gram carbohydrates, hint fiber, 2 grams whole fats (1 gram saturated), 5 milligrams ldl cholesterol, 36 milligrams sodium.
Peanut Satay Sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon candy soy sauce
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Thai crimson curry paste
1 tablespoons fish sauce
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
In a medium saucepan, mix coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, curry paste, fish sauce, salt and garlic. Carry to a boil, cut back warmth and permit to simmer till mixed and thickened (about 5-6 minutes). As soon as thickened, take off warmth and stir within the lime juice.
Makes 1 cup.
Per tablespoon: 52 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 68), 1 gram protein, 3 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams whole fats (3 grams saturated), no ldl cholesterol, 173 milligrams sodium.
Chocolate Fondue will be served with gadgets similar to strawberries, cherries, pineapple, pound cake and marshmallows. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Chocolate Fondue will be served with gadgets similar to strawberries, cherries, pineapple, pound cake and marshmallows. (Styling by Lisa Hanson / Chris Hunt for the AJC)
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Credit score: CHRIS HUNT
Chocolate Fondue
Seemingly America’s contribution to fondue, chocolate is the right dipping dessert with fruit or items of pound cake.
2 cups heavy cream
1 pound premium chocolate chips, or chopped semisweet chocolate
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon brandy
Add about 4 inches of water to a saucepan and convey to a gradual boil. Place a mixing bowl on prime of the saucepan and pour within the heavy cream and warmth to a low simmer. When the cream feels scorching to the contact, add chocolate and whisk till easy. Whisk in vanilla and brandy.
Pour into the fondue pot, set on a stand, and lightweight the burner beneath, protecting the flame low. In case you are utilizing an electrical fondue pot, observe the producer’s directions.
Serve with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, marshmallows, cubed pound cake and even crispy bacon, for dipping.
Serves 4 (or extra).
Per serving: 967 energy (p.c of energy from fats, 67), 8 grams protein, 76 grams carbohydrates, 7 grams fiber, 77 grams whole fats (48 grams saturated), 135 milligrams ldl cholesterol, 45 milligrams sodium.
