What exactly is Raclette? A quintessential dish in many European countries often enjoyed during colder months, it derives from the French verb "racler," which means "to scrape." It refers to the traditional method, developed by shepherds in the Swiss Alps, of melting a bubbling wheel of semi-firm cow’s milk cheese by an open fire and scraping it onto potatoes for a quick and easy meal.  

Today a raclette machine helps us achieve something similar – definitely more ideal for an indoor dinner if you don't have access to an open fire! Here’s what I saw: a grill-looking appliance right in the center of the dining table, with vegetables, cured meats and other sides on top. Every person got what looks like a mini fry pan, where we would place a piece of cheese and our chosen sides, and then slide it under the grill to melt. Then, we poured all this cheesy goodness onto our baked potatoes – talk about a memorable food experience!