I am truly pleased to bring the fondue back. It fell out of fashion after its nadir in the 70’s. As if such an ancient dish could be felled by mere fashion. Truth will out and so will quality. Though the Swiss claim inventing it, something us lot on the other side of the Alps would vigorously contest. The truth is that the idea of dipping bread into melted cheese and wine is ever so slightly older. Homer (not Simpson but the other one) mentions a recipe in the Iliad. That would date some 1700 years before the Swiss or of course the French. Of course bread and cheese is nothing new, in England you have Welsh Rabbit, but as usual we do things with a bit more panache and a lot more alcohol. The thing about fondue is community; eating fondue is the communal meal par excellence. The solo fondue eater is a truly sad thing.

There are of course rules and protocol.

1. Never double dip
2. Don’t lose your bread or risk a forfeit
3. Fight for the right to eat the Religieuse (the toasted cheese left at the bottom of the pan)
4. Never drink cold fizzy drinks, they have a terrible effect on the cheese in your stomach
5. Dip your bread in some Kirsch

So get yourself down to your local Brasserie, spare a couple of hours and slowly savour a fondue. Preferably outside with a nice glass of cold white wine. Heaven.