How to Host the Ultimate Fondue Dinner Party

The best fondue experience is all about the perfect fondue cheese recipe and some tasty and unique dippers. Here is how to set up the ultimate dining experience and host a fun fondue night at home.

How to Make Fondue at Home

I have to admit the first time I ever had fondue, I wasn’t quite sold on the idea. Melty cheese, some standard veggies and bread? Hard pass.

But, what if I told you that this isn’t a 70s fondue party. It’s an elevated, delicious version of old school fondue with a fun twist.

Once you find a great fondue recipe and I share mine below, all you need are a few fondue basics to set up the perfect fondue party table.

To set up a fondue party at home you’ll need the following:

• fondue pot
• fondue forks
• regular forks
• large platters or boards for various dippers
• appetizer plates
• dinner napkins
• wine glasses

How to Set Up a Fondue Table

To create the perfect fondue tablescape, I like using a cordless fondue pot so that it’s easy to place the pot in the middle of the table and allow all the guests access to the melty cheesy goodness.

If you purchase a pot with a cord, it might be easier to serve fondue buffet style and line up all your dippers around the cheese pot, and let guests serve themselves before sitting down to a table.

This will help keep the cheese hot and allow equal access to all of your guests.

Every guest should receive a fondue fork and a regular appetizer fork, along with a small appetizer plate. If you’re serving a side salad with your fondue dinner, consider using dinner plates for your party.

Fondue Etiquette For Beginners

As a host, remind everyone that the proper way to eat fondue is to use the long fondue fork to dip and then place the dipper on your small plate. Then use your dinner fork to eat your dippers.

To keep your dinner party germs and contaminants free, no one should eat directly from the fondue fork. That’s really it as far as fondue etiquette is concerned. There should also be no double dipping, of course.

My Favorite Fondue Dippers

The best fondue party in my opinion is one with lots of dipper options. A variety of dippers makes a fondue party enticing for everyone. Start with the classics, like bite-size bread and apples and cured meats, and then branch out to other dippers.

I like adding protein to fondue dinner, so that everyone is not only filling up on bread. Shrimp, sausage and steak all work great for fondue dinner. You could also serve cured meats, or other vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli.

Fondue Dippers Ideas to Serve at Your Next Fondue Party

• crispy bread, sourdough is my favorite
• soft pretzels
• apples
• cured meats such as prosciutto
• fresh vegetables such as cucumber and carrot
• cooked vegetable such as Brussels sprouts or cauliflower
• small boiled potatoes or even french fries
• thinly sliced sausage
• cornichons or small pickles
• cherry tomatoes
• steak tips thinly sliced
• grilled shrimp

* Your guests may not want to dip all of these items in cheese, but it’s nice to have fresh vegetables or even a simple salad as a side to a fondue dinner.

Check out this post for more dipper ideas : 25 Fondue Dipper Ideas for Your Cheese Fondue Party

How to Cook Vegetables for Fondue

To roast the Brussels, potatoes and cauliflower I tossed them in olive oil a heavy sprinkle of salt and pepper, and 2 cloves of garlic, chopped. I roasted the vegetables for fondue at 425 for 30 minutes. Note, the potatoes may need more time. 

Steal My Favorite Fondue Recipe

Making fondue at home is incredibly easy and it’s not time consuming or difficult. You can make the fondue cheese recipe ahead of time as well as chop most of your dippers.

This will save you a ton of time.The other important item is your fondue pot. I love the old school style of this one, and it’s easy to use.

There are countless variations for fondue cheese, and honestly you can’t really go wrong on this part. I skipped the traditional Swiss cheese and opted for a selection of the cheeses above from Trader Joe’s.

My recipe is a delicious mix of gruyere, fontina and gouda cheese.

Note: I also highly recommend a little bit of brandy and nutmeg to finish off your fondue recipe.