Food Styling + Photography by Arina Lanis
Tablescape + Decor Styling by Kathy Moran
Tablescape + Decor Photography by Tom Paule
Who says a Valentine's Day dinner must be reserved for only two? In fact, I think the beauty of one of the most special days of the year does not have to be solely dedicated to a pair of lovebirds, but can also be shared with friends and family!
Why not plan a party where prepping most of the food can be done on the day prior, with the main dishes consisting of savory cheeses, delicious wines, silky oil, and decadent chocolate. Best of all, your guests will have more fun than they would ever expect...eating! Are you convinced yet?
I'm talking about fondue, of course! Traditional versions hail from Switzerland, where the concept was invented as a peasant dish to consume old cheese and old bread in a palatable manner. Any modern-day foodie would agree that it has become a fabulous way to consume delicious cheeses, chocolates, and other delectable tidbits... with little to no cooking experience necessary. No stale bread required!
There is a limitless supply of recipes for fondue au fromage (cheese fondue). But we couldn't help but get excited over the sweetest fondue of all, fondue au chocolat (chocolate fondue). What better holiday on which to quench your thirst for chocolate than Valentine's Day? A Valentine's party should be an evening filled with gifts, champagne, and lots of chocolate! When we planned our Valentine's soiree fondue, we knew that if a guest left with a very satisfied sweet tooth, our party was a true success!
The decor was simple yet inviting, with the color red playing the main character for the evening. For a vibrant statement at the table, we rented colorful red wine goblets and "funky bloom plates" from Head of the Table Rental. A few yards of red and white ribbon with a similar swirl to the plate's pattern was spread atop a wide velveteen ribbon, creating a dazzling yet inexpensive table runner.
Additional cut crystal wine stems were re-purposed as vases and filled with fresh white flowers to beautifully line the runner. To add a bit of whimsy in keeping with the impish spirit of the holiday, the place card for each guest was given a real smooch of lipstick. Furthermore, what is a fondue party without directions on doing it all over again? Each couple received a lovely fondue cookbook simply tied with a red satin ribbon, encouraging them to share the experience with their friends and family.
Guests were greeted at the door with a taste of the sweet life. A glass of champagne garnished with a red rose petal was paired with a pink heart-shaped sugar cube. Once the sugar cube was dropped in, the champagne hissed and foamed, as well as tasting a little sweeter.
For this party the menu was simple: fondue au fromage made with cheddar cheese and paired with hearty sourdough and honey wheat bread. Additional items for the guests' dipping pleasure included tomatoes, celery, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, avocados, spicy sausage, and roasted chicken. Although there is always more than enough food at almost any party, we recommend no more than six guests to each fondue pot for reasons of easy access to the dip if nothing else.
The highlight of the evening was the fondue au chocolat — a delicious pairing of heavy cream and melted chocolate. For those looking to save a bit on calories, whole or even 1% milk can be used in place of the cream, but the rich taste may be a bit compromised.
The chocolate can be melted in a multitude of ways. A double boiler is probably the most traditional; however, we used the microwave on 50% power with good results, mixing the milk chocolate and cream together until the desired consistency was achieved. White chocolate may also be used, but be prepared for a somewhat thinner fondue, though still very tasty.
The dipping accoutrements included:
- Pineapples
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Pretzels
- Tangerines
- Crispy Rice Treats
- Marshmallows
- Cherry Cake
- Chocolate Brownies
We also included white chocolate dipped strawberries with chocolate sprinkles. They were refrigerated for 24 hours and were a great treat for guests who preferred some drip-free chilled chocolate in addition to the melted variety.
Rose petals and hearts were used as a pervasive design element throughout the evening. Not only were rose petals floating in the champagne, but we also garnished our mini heart chocolate brownies with rose petals that were floating on top of whipped heavy cream. Additional heart-shaped sugar cubes were sitting on red rose petals as well.
A fondue dinner is a beautiful and elegant experience. The communal atmosphere lends itself nicely to quiet conversation, lots of laughter, and contented silences while everyone enjoys a delicious meal.
