credit foto: Freepik
Etymologically, the word conviviality comes from convivere, meaning to live and eat together. Raclette is one of those simple pleasures that best expresses this sense of conviviality: bringing people together in a ritual where everyone contributes to the shared experience.
Since I bought the raclette grill and eagerly shared the news, many people—outside of the usual Francophiles—have asked me, “What is raclette?”
Is it that Swiss cheese that melts so enticingly and is poured over boiled potatoes, warming and brightening cold evenings, preferably with a glass of wine? Is it the name of the grill that does all the work? Or is it the ritual where people gather around the table under the pretext of melted cheese, creating moments of togetherness? The answer is: all three! Each one is intertwined with the other, all part of a picture where food and wine are nothing more than a reason to be together.
Traditionally, the freshly melted, golden, and piping-hot raclette cheese is poured over boiled potatoes and served with pickles (cornichons) and a selection of charcuterie (cured meats: ham, salami), not to mention wine—which is essential to completing the ritual. In an extended version, vegetables and other types of meat are added to the grill, allowing guests to cook their own food as they please, in a friendly, convivial atmosphere.
Because, above all, raclette is an experience: one that centers around the joy of sharing a meal together.
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