Why Raclette is My Favorite French Dish

Before moving to Paris, fondue, croissants and éclairs came to mind when I thought about French cuisine.

Raclette was not even a consideration because I had never heard of it. Now, it’s one of my favorite French meals, if not my favorite dish of all time. One of my first experiences with raclette came through the invitation of a neighbor friend. She invited me, my roommate and a few other people to her raclette party. Her table was covered with a mouth-watering array of meats, cheeses, potatoes and more; and in the center of it all was an electrical tabletop grill-oven thing. I quickly learned that raclette parties are synonymous with a good time. The combined flavors are delicious and the raclette process creates a campfire-like environment. It’s relaxed, tasty and fun – the perfect recipe for making new friends. Raclette also seems to help break down barriers where cultural or social awkwardness is present. Yes, I am speaking from personal experience. 

What is Raclette? 

The word raclette originally referred to a specific kind of cheese. Over time, the word came to mean the process of melting and scraping cheese off of large cheese wheels for guests. The modern meaning still refers to a specific kind of cheese as well as the process, which involves a group of people, an electrical tabletop grill, a variety of cured meats, pre-sliced raclette cheese, and boiled or steamed potatoes. Pearled onions and pickles are often included as well. 

During this meal, you melt cheese and put it over your food, specifically potatoes. You can also cook vegetables and more on the top grill surface. 

Why is Raclette so popular in France?

If my own enthusiasm isn’t enough to depict the greatness of raclette, it may help if I explain why French people like the dish so much. 

First, formal meals in France are lengthy. Several courses, wine, coffee and four to five hours can be expected when you are invited to dinner at someone’s home. Raclette parties follow usual timeline expectations with less formality. 

Second, because each person gets to prepare their food according to their own preferences, there is a unique level of comfort and relaxation. Plus, as long as the host has opted for pre-sliced cheese rather than melting a giant cheese wheel, they get to relax and completely enjoy their company as well. (I should mention that both cheese methods are a lot of fun though.)

Third, raclette highlights France’s incredible meats and cheeses, the likes of which are hard to come by in many countries. If you are from the United States and you’ve tried French cured meats, you know that the term “deli meat” does not do it justice. To give you an idea, in Paris, sliced meats can range from $5-75 per pound. Also, there are over 300 types of cheese produced in France, although not all of them are used for raclette. While sliced meat and cheese might seem simple, they should not be underestimated in France. 

Raclette and Friendship

As I previously mentioned, raclette caters to conversation and helps break down social barriers. For this reason, I have co-hosted several raclette parties for out-of-town guests, with French friends invited. For anyone who is planning to move to France, I highly recommend that you do not turn down an invitation to raclette. While an understanding of cultural norms is still very important for foreigners, a raclette party can help you build new relationships and perhaps lifelong friends. 

And I can’t stress enough just how delicious it is. 

WRITTEN BY:
KATHY IN COLLABORATION WITH AMANDA BIGLEY