An Easy Three-Course Fondue Menu

The concept of fondue has its roots in the cuisine of Switzerland. Traditional Swiss fondue dates back to the 1930s and consists of at least two different cheeses melted together with hard cider.

Today, the term fondue is more generalized and refers to the culinary practice of dipping bite-sized pieces of various foods into hot liquids to either cook or coat them.

Find recipes and tips for three delicious courses.

Despite the use of cider in early recipes, today's traditional Swiss fondue is made with a combination of Gruyere and Emmentaler cheeses, dry white wine and a splash of kirsch (cherry brandy). Our recipe provides easy, step-by-step instructions for creating this classic appetizer dish with perfect results.

For a main course, we serve an oil fondue. Bite-sized cubes of beef tenderloin and jumbo shrimp are seared in hot oil and served with six quick-to-fix dipping sauces to add a variety of flavor profiles.

For dessert, our chocolate fondue is made with chocolate chips for easy melting and includes a splash of orange liqueur for added flavor. You don't even need a fondue pot for this one because the chocolate is melted on top of the stove, then transferred to a ceramic crock which keeps it warm and melted for a while. Reheating can even be done in the microwave (carefully).

A few simple elements can add romantic charm to your table.

We always try to keep our table décor simple. Our Valentine's Day setting uses doily wrapped votive holders, a milk-white vase decorated with heart-shaped, removable decals and delicate pink ribbons and ornaments to decorate each place setting.

The centerpiece is an easy diy project made with paper mache letters and silk flowers. We used an XOXO theme, but you could just as easily use the word "love" or even that special someone's initials. Click here for the instructions to make this easy craft.

Resources:

You'll find all the recipes for our fondue menu in the Winter 2013 issue of ZEST Digital Magazine. It's always free to read and works on both your computer and mobile devices - click here to read now.

-- Recipes and menu created by the editors of MyGourmetConnection