So...Raclette
It turns out Raclette is just cheese. That's it. Really. Hot cheese. Which sounds odd but is very tasty, if incredibly bad for you. :)
There is a special thing for heating raclette evenly. You heat it as a part-wheel, in the wax, over a slow flame. It's a very social thing because someone must serve it a little bit a time, in this case, our host, Michele.
The cheese is a very mild-tasting sort, and when melted sort of has the consistency of mozzarella. They put a blob on your plate and you put either pepper or paprika on it. Before it cools too much you eat it in little bites, either by itself or with the pickles, pickled onions (I took a pass on these, not my thing) and hot new potatoes they serve with it.
Its very tasty, if extremely heavy. Not something you eat very often, for sure. We had a little bit of the killer white wine they make here, and decadent vanilla ice cream with whipped cream. All in all a very fatty night, but very tasty. Glad I didn't eat too heavily at lunch, with my mystery-dressing-and-beet-salad. :)
Last night I also tried Kirch, which is an extremely strong liqueur made from cherries. It was good cold medicine, but I don't think I'll be bringing any back to Canada. :P
Today we travel to Egerkingen and stay in Buchdorf, where Beat grew up. I am staying with Sonja's mother, he and AnneMarie are staying with his mother and Rick and Arlene are staying in a hotel. Beat's mother has been taking a night course in English and wants to practice with me. This ought to be interesting...
More later tonight, hopefully.
There is a special thing for heating raclette evenly. You heat it as a part-wheel, in the wax, over a slow flame. It's a very social thing because someone must serve it a little bit a time, in this case, our host, Michele.
The cheese is a very mild-tasting sort, and when melted sort of has the consistency of mozzarella. They put a blob on your plate and you put either pepper or paprika on it. Before it cools too much you eat it in little bites, either by itself or with the pickles, pickled onions (I took a pass on these, not my thing) and hot new potatoes they serve with it.
Its very tasty, if extremely heavy. Not something you eat very often, for sure. We had a little bit of the killer white wine they make here, and decadent vanilla ice cream with whipped cream. All in all a very fatty night, but very tasty. Glad I didn't eat too heavily at lunch, with my mystery-dressing-and-beet-salad. :)
Last night I also tried Kirch, which is an extremely strong liqueur made from cherries. It was good cold medicine, but I don't think I'll be bringing any back to Canada. :P
Today we travel to Egerkingen and stay in Buchdorf, where Beat grew up. I am staying with Sonja's mother, he and AnneMarie are staying with his mother and Rick and Arlene are staying in a hotel. Beat's mother has been taking a night course in English and wants to practice with me. This ought to be interesting...
More later tonight, hopefully.