Here in Paris, when we have tourists to entertain, one of the main spots to take them is Le Refuge des Fondus, a fondue restaurant in Montmarte where the waiters are surly, the seating space is impossibly tight, and the wine is served in baby bottles.
In Minnesota, however, the equivalent is a chain restaurant that I’d heard of but never visited until I went to Minneapolis for my friend’s wedding in September: the Melting Pot.
One of the biggest differences for me, however, wasn’t the fact that the Melting Pot is separated into comfy booths, the groups are greeted by smiling waitresses, and the number of sweet, pink, girly cocktails that are available. For me, the main difference is the fact that here, cheese fondue is not considered a main course.
I had heard this blasphemy two years ago, when I was living in Toronto and had decided to throw a fondue party, with cheese fondue as the main course and chocolate as dessert. My roommate at the time informed me that “cheese isn’t dinner.” I strongly disagree, as do the many people I know here in Paris who gladly accompany me to fondue and raclette restaurants where we gorge ourselves on so much cheese that we need to be rolled home. The Melting Pot, however, for some reason holds an anti-cheese stance, and cheese is offered as the appetizer, followed by a meat fondue.
We tried four different kinds of fondue: two cheese and two meat. The cheeses were one traditional one with Swiss cheese and wine, and one cheddar and beer fondue. The meat fondues were very similar to one another and included potstickers, filet steak, salmon, teriyaki beef, chicken and shrimp. We of course helped ourselves to chocolate fondue as well.
The experience was very different to what I’ve come to expect of fondue restaurants here in France. Even the most gimmicky, like le Refuge des Fondus, still retains some of the traditional aspect of serving fondue. Moving the experience to a restaurant where the heating elements are built into the tables felt almost wrong… even if it was quite tasty.
I think the Melting Pot and I have gone our seperate ways. I’ve gotten too accustomed to the way they do fondue here in France, and once you go French, it’s hard to go back.
The local Melting Pot here went out of business. Too expensive I think, especially because there is a wonderful Fondue place that’s been around for ages that, though just as expensive, was better and was more of an “upscale, special night” restaurant….and I totally agree that cheese can be dinner!
I bumped into that little restaurant in Paris by accident and I totaly, totaly loved it. I know make fondue for special occasions back home (Mexico) and my family loves it too. And of course cheese fondue is the main dish, and by the way… for us is always for dinner!!!