Frequently Asked Questions
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to your Raclette Australia raclette grill, cheese, potatoes, raclette
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What cheese is traditionally
used with a raclette grill and where can I buy it?
Authentic raclette cheese is produced in the French speaking regions
in the Swiss Alps. It can be described as a semi hard cheese, yellowish
colour, virtually no holes with light brown rind. Australia also
produces its own raclette cheeses: Fromart
Raclette, Maleny
Raclette and Heidi
Farm Raclette Cheese and in New Zealand you can buy Ferndale
Raclette. Raclette cheese is famous because the flavour and
aroma intensifies when melted and its texture remains smooth during
grilling. Visit your department store food hall in your major capital
city and see whether they stock it. Authentic French made "Raclette
Rouge" that is available only at exclusive cheese stores is
a must to try but it is a bit on the expensive side. Check out where
you can buy
raclette cheese in your state.
What kind of other cheeses can I use
on my raclette and where can I buy it?
In Australia two cheeses which are also ideal for raclette are
available from the gourmet cheese section at Woolworths supermarkets.
A German made cheese called "Alpsberg" is highly recommended.
It is a delicious cheese with excellent melting qualities with a
great flavour. The other is Australian made Swiss style cheese called
"Aussie Swiss Gold" which has a great sweet nutty flavour.
Other Swiss cheeses such as Emmenthal or Gruyere are also perfectly
suitable are available from large delicatessens. Mozzarella mixed
with grated Parmesan and Romano cheese is also good. It is recommended
that you mix some mozzarella (grated or fresh) with the Alpsberg
cheese to balance the moisture content.
How do I use a raclette grill?
The raclette grill is placed in the middle of a large enough table
and ingredients that have been prepared beforehand are placed around
it. Each guest has an individual pan or two and compiles their chosen
ingredients onto the pan with a slice of cheese on top and then
places it under the grill to melt. In the meantime you can enjoy
a sip of wine and nice company while you wait. The stone plate can
be used to keep the potatoes warm. Guests can use two pans if there
are enough to go around and this can reduce the waiting time. Pre-cooked
ingredients like leftovers can also be used on your raclette. If
guests prefer they can use the top of the grill to cook their vegetables
for a crispier taste instead of in their pans.
What should I remember when buying
ingredients for my raclette party?
The flavour, nutritional content and colour of most natural foods
are at their best when they are bought fresh. If you are going to
grill meat on the top plates, ensure the meat is bought on the day
and do not use them if frozen. Potatoes are best cooked using a
steaming method to retain the nutrients that sit just under the
skin. How much cheese to serve depends on the number of guests and
whether they are used to eating lots of cheese. Eating slowly and
enjoying the simple and natural flavours of wholesome foods is the
secret to a satisfying meal. Take pleasure in small portions and
rest in between. Leftover ingredients can easily be used for pizza
toppings or another raclette party the next day.
How can I make organising a raclette party
even easier?
The beauty of a raclette party is that the preparation can be so
simple. Most ingredients will just need for you to cut them up into
small pieces or opening up a jar or can and presenting it all on
nice plates and bowls.
Your guests may like
to help contribute to the organising of the party and could bring
some of the ingredients with them already cut into bite size pieces.
Others could bring jars of olives, sliced ham, canned pineapple,
pepper mills etc. This will help cut the costs of catering for a
large group and allows everyone to get involved.
How do I save space when I set the table?
There are a number of ways where you can save space on your dining
table. You can stack ingredients high in bowls rather than on plates.
Each guest could use smaller appetizer plates rather than large
dinner plates. You can also replenish the ingredients mid way through
the meal rather than have all the ingredients on the table at once.
You could also opt to buy a few smaller
raclette grills and distribute them on the table.
Do you have a question that you wish to ask? Simply send
us your question via our feedback form. We love to hear from
you!
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Pty Ltd (ACN 112 356 448)
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