Organizing A Fondue Party

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Organizing a Fondue party is easy and fun, but there are a few things to consider. Check out my tips on planning a fondue party that is fun and delicious!

A fondue party is a fun way to get together and enjoy dinner. Everyone can enjoy the different flavors in a festive make-it-yourself party idea. This is a great party idea for the holidays but is also nice for a fun family dinner. 

 

Hi Friends!

Holiday festivities have already started in our neighborhood.  Recently we had a fondue party with friends and I wanted to shar with you.  If you have never tried fondue or have never been to a fondue party, let me tell you they are one of the most social and fun parties ever.

Here are some tips to organize a fondue party:

Fondue Pots – It is best to have more than one fondue pot, so you may want to borrow one from a friend and depending on how many people you are expecting, you may want to have several available.   If you do not have a fondue pot and are considering buying one, there are many nice ones available now that are electric. 

A good rule of thumb is one pot for every three people. The electric pans heat up faster and more controllable than the sterno type of pots. This one here, is my favorite.

Not all fondue pots are created equally. You want one that is sturdy and has a solid base.

Most pots come with skewers, but you may want to have some wooden ones available. They are easier to use when dipping in different sauces.

Fondue Menu Ideas

Best Meats for Fondue

When we fondue, we usually have shrimp, chicken, and beef.  You can also use scallops, meatballs, bread and vegetables.   Figure about 1/3 – 1/2  pound of meat per person.  Whatever you choose will need to be cut up in bite-size pieces before the party.  

Remind people that chicken takes longer to cook and should be cooked unti juices run clear and reaches 165° F.

Vegetables

By all means, include vegetables in your fondue if you wish. I recommend just having a couple on the menu. Great choices for vegetables are hearty veggies that will stand up to a hot dip and yet not requiring pre-cooking.

My top choices are:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Bell peppers 
• Cucumber

You can of course precook heartier vegetables like potatoes or broccoli, but that is a lot of work and the whole idea is to enjoy the party with little fuss. 

We also usually add a salad or two to the menu to round out the main meal. 

Cooking Essentials

Once you determine the types of foods you will use for the fondue, you will want to decide if you want to use broth or oil to put in the fondue pots.  If you use oil, I would recommend peanut, vegetable or canola oil as those types tend to smoke less.  

If you use broth, you can use any flavor you like.- chicken, beef or vegetable all work well  Follow heating directions according to your fondue pot as all are not exactly alike. The seasonings in the broth add a nice flavor to the meats. 

Fondue Sauces

Next come the dipping sauces.  It is nice to have a few available. and you can use store-bought (easy!) or make them yourself. 

Some suggested dipping sauces are

• Cheese Fondue
• BBQ
• Teriyaki
• Sesame
• Honey Mustard
• Cocktail
• Steakhouse
• Blue cheese
• Horseradish
• Ginger.  

Arrange the sauces in small containers so that each person (or couple) can have their own sauce.

This is a good time to put these into ramekins that usually come with the pot.

Fondue Forks – Most fondue pots come with six different colored forks so that people will not get confused.  You can also use wooden skewers and have people mark them with markers or some other type of ornament so they know which one is theirs.

Dessert Fondue

Don’t forget Dessert – Dessert is one of the best items on the menu.  In fact, you can just have a fondue dessert party if you want to keep things simple.  Usually, we do a couple of main dish items and then follow with dessert.

We like to do it potluck style and everyone bring a part of the meal. I would recommend chocolate as your fondue with fun food to dip such as marshmallows, angel food cake, and fruit.

Chocolate Fondue Recipe

You can make a white chocolate fondue with white chocolate chips too if you wish!

Keep in mind that a fondue party is suitable for teens or adults.   In fact, it is a great party theme for teens.  It is a great way to add socialization to your party.  If you have a party with young children, you may just want to have fondue appetizers for the adults in a supervised area.

Equipment Needed for A Fondue Party

• Fondue Pot – figure one for each 3-4 people, six at the most. You can ask friends to bring their own.
• Fondue Forks – I like to have extras. These sturdy fondue forks work well and are inexpensive.
• Ramekins or small bowls – for dipping sauces. You usually get 4-6 with each pot but you need more. This sauce bowl set works great for many occasions. 
• Knife – for preparing meats, fruits, and bread
• Cutting Board– For use in preparing food ahead of time
• Serving Plates and/or bowls – For all of the ingredients.

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