Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by bobry. bobry Wonders, “How do you eat cheese?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, bobry!
Do you like cheese? To most people, that’s like asking whether they like to breathe. Cheese makes all sorts of things better. From pizza to nachos, cheesy goodness is a delicious part of many favorite foods.
There’s even one type of food experience that revolves around dipping different foods into hot, melted cheese. What are we talking about? Fondue, of course!
Fondue is an old tradition that got its start in Switzerland several hundred years ago. Back then, people would store breads and cheeses for use throughout the winter. When spring arrived, they would clean out their stored breads and cheese. Often they found that some of it was dried out and not too appetizing.
Instead of wasting the food, they came up with a way to make it taste better. They would melt all their cheeses together in one big pot and then dip their crusty bread into it.
They named this creation fondue, from the French word that means “to blend” or “to melt.” For the Swiss, fondue was more than a meal, though. It became a event that people looked forward to every year.
Over time, fondue became popular around the world. Today, fondue sets can be bought in stores everywhere. Most fondue sets include a pot for the cheese, a heating element, and a variety of long forks to dip foods into the cheese.
Fondue is still a event. People hold “fondue parties” where they gather to socialize and enjoy different types of fondue. There are even fondue restaurants that have taken fondue to the next level.
At fondue restaurants, you will find many types of fondue beyond simple cheese. Fondue restaurants may feature various meats that can be cooked in heated broth or oil. The cooked meats are then often dipped in a variety of sauces.
If you eat at a fondue restaurant, make sure you save room for dessert. Chocolate fondue has become a popular dessert treat. Cake, fruit, and marshmallows can all be dipped in melted chocolate!
If you like fondue, there are a couple of rules of etiquette to keep in mind. Don’t double dip! To avoid spreading germs from one person to another, just dip each piece of food once. It’s also a good idea to use your fondue fork only to move your food from the fondue pot to your plate. Then use a different fork to put it in your mouth!
Standards: C3.D2.His.2, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.4, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2
