Cook Fast, Live Young: Fondue at Home for Half the Restaurant Price

At a fondue restaurant, a big night out can run a hundred dollars or more, but you can make this delicious meal at home for less than half the price. Plus, it's fun to do!

If you have older children, they'll enjoy participating in the meal. And if you're a young married couple with no kids, it's an inexpensive, romantic dinner in.

Cheese Fondue for Four
(Approximately $12 -- instead of over $30 at a restaurant)

1 cup dry white wine
1/2 pound shredded Gruyere cheese
1/2 pound shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 lemon
Items for dipping (I recommend cubes of French bread, pieces of green apple, cauliflower, and carrots.)

1. Simmer the wine in your fondue pot. (Check your instructions for the best setting.)
2. Add the cheese slowly (about ¼ lb at a time). Stir until it is melted before adding more.
3. When all the cheese is melted, add the flour, salt, nutmeg, and garlic. Stir well.
4. If you have trouble with the cheese getting lumpy, add a few drops of lemon. The acid helps to break up the cheese and actually accentuates the flavors!

Broth Fondue for Four
(Approximately $15 to 20 - instead of $40 to $50 at a restaurant)

4 cups of chicken (or vegetable) broth
Salt and pepper (to taste)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon thyme, rosemary, or another favorite spice


Ideas for Meat to Cook:

(Keep meats separate on different plates.)
Chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
Filet Mignon, cut into bite-size pieces
Shrimp, de-veined

Ideas for Veggies to Cook:

cauliflower, cut into small florets
broccoli, cut into small florets
mushrooms, cleaned


Ideas for Sauces:

BBQ
Teriyaki
Honey Mustard
Cocktail Sauce
Béarnaise Sauce

1. Combine the broth and seasonings in the fondue pot. It should be about ¾ full.
2. Simmer for about 10 minutes at the setting recommended in the instructions.
3. Spear the meat or vegetables with your fondue forks, and put it in the boiling broth to cook.
4. Again, the instructions that came with your pot should give you guidelines for approximate cooking times. Be especially careful with chicken. Juices should run clear and the internal temperature should reach 165 degrees.

Chocolate Fondue
($5 to $10 -- instead of $15 to $30 at a restaurant)

12 ounces of dark chocolate chips
8 ounces of heavy cream
Items to Dip (I recommend strawberries, slices of banana, dried apricots, marshmallows, and pretzels.)

1. Bring the cream to a low boil over medium heat.
2. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth and well-mixed.
3. Dip in!

Do you have a favorite food to fondue? Share your recommendations in the comments!

Juliana Weiss-Roessler has ten years of professional writing and editing experience. For four years, she managed the web content for the star of an Emmy-nominated reality series. Currently, she is an editor for the geek girl e-zine PinkRaygun.com, a contributor to the career blog at Resumark.com, and owner of the food blog CookFastLiveYoung.blogspot.com. Follow her @cookfast on Twitter and learn more about her work at WeissRoessler.com.