Raclette Grilling at the End of the Summer

The end of August is fast approaching, and the cooler months of fall are just around the corner. It's time to seriously think about Raclette! Here's a great idea to treat your kids to a back-to-school raclette party.

Whether the weather is balmy or starting to chill, the raclette grill instantly infuses warmth into the home. Now though, you can have raclette outdoors too! The Barbeclette allows you to melt cheese right over the barbecue. With some beers in the cooler and some Raclette cheese on the grill, what could be better!

The French Cowboy Tames the Wild West with Cultured Tastes

Laurent Bonjour, 'The French Cowboy", knows a lot about cheese. But you won't find him behind a cheese counter at your local cheese shop. Instead, you'll find him out on the range, the farmer's market circuit in Southern California with his refrigerated truck of cheeses.

Raised in the Swiss Alps Monsieur Bonjour has cheese in his blood, so selling the 75 varieties or so of cheeses and imparting the knowledge that goes with each one is like second nature to him.



Catch him in his Australian Outback hat at one of these outdoor LA locales where fresh vegetable and fruit stands comingle with The Cheese Corner. (Source: The Culver Patch)

The Genesis of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

A Tenderoni Macaroni Company salesman in 1937 came up with the brilliant idea to attach grated cheese to a package of pasta. When Kraft got wind of the idea, they quickly hired the genius, and the first box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese sold 9 million boxes in the first year at 19 cents per box. (Source: VitalStatistics.info)

Ever since, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese has been the "tenderoni" of the Kraft dynasty.

This is a Mini Raclette Grill, and This is a Barbeclette

Get a free Barbeclette when you buy a Boska Holland Mini Raclette Grill during the month of August.

This "Mini" is designed for 1 or 2 people. It's just the perfect size if you don't have a lot of space.

My suave friend, Andrew, really impresses all of his girlfriends when he pulls this thing out and starts cooking. He swears it's the best thing that's happened to him (on the romantic front) since he bought a car.

A Barbeclette looks like this. You use it on a traditional outdoor barbecue grill to melt cheese. Vegetarians love this because they can enjoy grilled veggies with melted cheese on top at a BBQ.

Who Says Asians Don't Like Cheese?

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Snack Culture: Yankee Cheez Doodler Dies

Since my last post, the inventor of Cheez Doodles has died. Morrie Yohai, a Wharton School business graduate as well as a Marine pilot in WWII, clearly also had a creative streak that resulted in the iconic neon-orange colored snack so well loved today.

In his father's snack manufacturing company back in the 1950's he and his father discovered that liquefied cornmeal pressed through one of their machines and then coated and baked with seasonings and cheese powder, made for a tasty snack.

His stroke of genius has left an orange-stained mark on our palate for sure. Known as a teacher and educator too, Morrie was 90 years old dying of cancer in his New York home on July 27, 2010.

Sources: The LA Times, The NY Times, The Washington Post

Hosting a Raclette Party

Author: Michael Binetti

The word 'Raclette' can be used to refer to three things - a particular type of cheese, a grill that is placed on the dining table to melt cheese, and a type of meal or a manner of eating.

The Raclette cheese is a Swiss semi-firm cows-milk cheese that is very popular in Switzerland, and although originally from the Alps, it is also made in France. Good Raclette cheese is mild, creamy and slightly nutty, and is very ideal for melting. The classic use of Raclette cheese involves melting it and serving it with boiled potatoes, pickled onions, a variety of sliced meats, and vegetables. Most people believe that fondues is the most popular dish in Switzerland when it fact, Raclette is actually more popular than fondue in most parts of Switzerland. The term Raclette comes from the French word racler, which means "to scrape", pertaining to the fact that the melted cheese must be scraped from a grill and on to the plate of the diner.

Raclette cheese can be melted into different kinds of dishes, even fondue, or it may be eaten plain. Its creamy, mild taste fits well with an assortment of things, which is why Raclette cheese is a favorite for quick snacks and dinner cheese platters. A lot of people nowadays enjoy these Raclette dinners because they make a great venue for catching up with friends without the tedious food preparation.

For most of use who have just recently discovered Raclette may feel like we have stumbled on to the latest and perhaps the most enjoyable dinner party trend ever. A Raclette meal is pretty much like a fondue party, but better - the same socializing, but with more cooking options. Aside from being absolutely fun for the guests, a Raclette meal is also one of the easiest parties to hose. This is because much of the food preparation can be done ahead, while the cleanup afterwards is equally simple.

In a nutshell, Raclette party goes like this.

The Raclette grill usually serves about up to eight people, and can take different shapes - some Raclette grills are rectangular while some are round or oblong in shape. Although traditionally, the Raclette grill is made of wood, modern Raclette grills are available in most department stores today. While the cheese melts on the grill, the guests get to cook their own meats, sausages, fish and even vegetables on the grill. The melted cheese on the trays is then scraped out and onto a selection of side dishes (the most common of all, are small boiled potatoes). Guests cook, talk, eat, and repeat the entire process often a few times, for several enjoyable hours.

Be sure to offer your guests a cocktail, something dry but not too sweet - perhaps a good old wine or a martini. But what good would your Raclette party be if you do not have the best Raclette cheese? Organize your next Raclette party and order Raclette cheese today!

Buy your favorite cheese from idealcheese.com, New York's trusted gourmet cheese shop, serving cheese lovers for over 50 years. Our cheeses are guaranteed fresh and always hand-cut to order. For any questions about our cheese call us 1800-382-0109 for cheese.

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