The Raclette Grill

Nine years ago, my sister and I went on a handbell mission trip to Germany. We stayed with various host families, both in (the former) East Germany and West Germany. The economic differences were still quite apparent, and while we were in the former West Germany, we stayed with an affluent German family. Our friend Judy stayed with close friends of "our" family, and during our two nights with these families, "her" family joined us for a special dinner.
The hosts told us that we would be having raclette, and that the children in both families were excited because this would be the first raclette party of the winter months. We told one of the other members of our handbell group about the party, and she said that it was traditionally a skiers' meal, and that it was an honor to be included in a raclette meal.

The raclette grill was set up in the middle of the dining table, and there were bowls all around with various toppings: tomatoes, cheeses, mushrooms, pineapple, onion, meat, and probably more things that my sister and I can no longer recall. Boiled potatoes were kept warm on the top of the grill, and each person had a small wedge-shaped pan that fit under the warming plate. A layer of cheese was placed in the pan, then a sliced boiled potato, and then the toppings of one's choice. The pan was then placed under the warming plate, where the heating element served as a broiler. The pan was left under the broiler about ten minutes or so, melting the cheese and warming all the toppings together. While eating the first potato, a second potato and toppings would be heating. It was a wonderful evening, and made a strong memory for my sister and me.

Fast forward to last fall...I finally ordered a raclette grill from Amazon.com, and opened it up for use last night. I invited my sister, her husband, and his sister to join us for dinner. It was just as wonderful as we remembered, and everyone else seemed to enjoy it as well. I wasn't able to find raclette cheese at Wal-Mart, but the cheeses that we used suited us just as well. My DH said it reminded him of a fondue pot, and that he had always liked fondue (I think there's another story in that remark, but I'm not sure...DH had a rather colorful life before he married me). I have enough toppings left over to use the grill again this evening with our friends from down the street. They'll be here around 4:30 for an early dinner.

I have found my Germany negatives (I've run across them several times), and my notes from the trip. I started on a scrapbook years ago, and I want to get back to it this year. That was a special time in my life, and I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to travel abroad again. But I'll always be able to pull out the raclette grill and reminisce.