All About Raclette
Raclette is both a type of cheese and a Swiss dish based on heating the cheese and scraping off the melted part. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French word racler, meaning "to scrape," a reference to the fact that the melted cheese must be scraped from the unmelted part of the cheese onto the plate.Traditionally the melting happens in front of an open fire with the big piece of cheese facing the heat. One then regularly scrapes off the melting side. It is accompanied by small firm potatoes (Bintje, Charlotte or Raclette varieties), gherkins, pickled onions, and dried meat, such as jambon cru and viande des Grisons. Today, many people melt their cheese with the aid of a raclette machine (such as the one pictured above) which often doubles as a grilling/frying surface for the accompanying vegetables and meats. We both rent and sell these machines (by Swissmar) as well as all the traditional condiments and wines.
In the Swiss canton of Valais, raclette is typically served with tea or other warm beverages. Another popular option is to serve raclette with white wine, such as the traditional Savoy wine or Fendant, but Riesling and Pinot gris are also common. Local tradition cautions that other drinks – water for example – will cause the cheese to harden in the stomach, leading to indigestion.
In the Swiss canton of Valais, raclette is typically served with tea or other warm beverages. Another popular option is to serve raclette with white wine, such as the traditional Savoy wine or Fendant, but Riesling and Pinot gris are also common. Local tradition cautions that other drinks – water for example – will cause the cheese to harden in the stomach, leading to indigestion.
READING RACLETTE
Raw Cows' Milk Animal Rennet from Reading, Vermont Spring Brook Farms pair with... Rieslings, Sancerres, Pinot Gris or Rosé One of our favourie Raclette cheese is classically supple and nutty. Ideal for almost any use; snacking, cooking or “machining." You can feel extra-good about buying Reading ("redding") as proceeds from its sale go to the Farms for City Kids Programme for educating and employing local youth. |