Fondue

Definition

A Swiss dish in which small pieces of food (typically bread, meat, or vegetables) are dipped into a communal pot of melted cheese, chocolate, or broth. It is both a cooking method and a social dining experience.

Example Usage

For our dinner party, we prepared a cheese fondue with crusty bread and invited everyone to gather around the pot.

Origin

From French 'fondre' meaning 'to melt', used by the Swiss to describe their traditional cheese dish.

Fun Fact

Fondue became a symbol of Swiss national identity in the 1930s and was promoted internationally as an official national dish.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Advanced

Maillard Reaction

The chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that creates browning and incredible flavor on cooked food. It's the scientific reason your steak tastes amazing, and knowing its name is the fastest way to sound smart at a barbecue you contributed nothing to.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Intermediate

Salpicon

Finely diced ingredients (meat, fish, vegetables) bound with a sauce, used as a filling or garnish. It's basically everything chopped up and moistened.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

silver bullet

A beer consumed during or immediately after shift, often while still in chef whites. The sacred ritual that transforms kitchen warriors back into humans.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

all hands

When every available staff member, regardless of position, is called to help during an overwhelming rush or crisis. The kitchen equivalent of the Avengers assembling.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

ticket

The printed order from the dining room that dictates a cook's immediate future and stress level. When the ticket printer won't stop chattering, you know you're in for a rough night.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

Yogurt

A thick, creamy dairy product made by fermenting milk with specific bacterial cultures, resulting in a tangy flavor and smooth texture. It's consumed plain or flavored, and is rich in probiotics and protein.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Translate This Term

See “Fondue” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

TikTok House

A TikTok house is acollab housepopulated by TikTokinfluencers. TheTikTokersareviralsuperstars who have been assembled by...