Raclette, a winter favourite in Switzerland. - photo by Nashauna Drummond

Nashauna Drummond, Acting Lifestyle Co-ordinator

The Swiss love their cheese as much as the French do. It's a staple at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Recently, on a trip to Geneva, I got a taste of their traditional and very popular Raclette.

Raclette is a winter time favourite in Switzerland. Raclette is from the French word 'Racler' which means to scrape. That's basically what Raclette is - scraped cheese served with potatoes, dried meat and vegetables of your choice. It's really simple and very delicious.

Raclette machine

First you need the right equipment - Raclette machine, Raclette cheese potatoes and vegetables. The Raclette machine is an electric grill (of sorts), like a stand about a foot high with a platform to place the cheese on (there are variations to this grill). Over the platform hangs what looks like a rectangular shaped desk lamp which produces the heat to melt the cheese.

Raclette cheese is of a higher consistency than the cheddar cheese that we are used to, so it melts slowly. It is eaten with very small potatoes.

Cook the potatoes in their skin (unpeeled). As the cheese melts, use a large knife (there are special Raclette knives but any large knife can be used) to scrape off the cheese and serve. Consume immediately before the cheese melts. This goes well with a chilled bottle of dry white wine.