Raclette in a St. Louis restaurant

[Doug]

I went to Switzerland on vacation and enjoyed my first raclette, where you melt cheese in little shovels and then scrape it over pickles and boiled potatoes.

Does anyone know of a St. Louis restaurant that serves raclette?

[nosh]

I do not know of a place offhand. But this is the type of challenge some restaurants might enjoy. I'd make a call to The Crossing in Clayton or their sister restaurant in the Central West End.

[jpg]

Check out www.playingwithfireandwater.com for her version of raclette. You may have to go back one month in her archives. If you can convince those restaurants to get raclette, check on a domestic version made in Michigan called Leelanau. Fantastic cheese, and the aged version is amazing.

[mister]

Racclette isn't a challenge. It's simply a hunk of chesse that is heated and the outside scraped off as it melts.

[c oliver]

She's looking for a restaurant not to make it at home. I have TWO raclette grills but have not ever had it in a U.S. restaurant.

[foreverhungry]

A true raclette is much more than a hunk of melted cheese. The traditional cheese used (raclette, a semi firm cow's milk cheese) can be difficult to find, though Surdyk's usually carries it. The traditional accompaniments are cornichon pickles, small firm potatoes, a ham product such as prosciutto, and them maybe assorted vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Much like the idea of a fondue, the concept is simple sounding, but a good and authentic one is difficult to find. Raclette is a party dish my family in the Savoie region of France enjoys during family reunions.

[c oliver]

Trader Joe's usually carries the cheese or you can order online.

[steveb]

Rats, A few years ago we (the kids) moved my eldery Mum to Kansas City from St. Louis to be closer to us. She had a raclette maker (we sold it at a garage sale) she had acquired in Switzerland at some expense and trouble. I believe she had to have it rewired. When proudly presenting it and a raclette meal to her Swiss brother-in-law one holiday, he proclaimed, "Oh s**t, potatoes for dinner!"

[mister]

If we get a bit of heat wave this month you could approximate the effect by letting some provel placed on a pie tin sit out in the sun for 30 minutes.

[babaoriley7]

I know you can buy Raclette at Trader Joe's

[Doug]

Thanks. And I see that www.target.com has raclette makers available...