Here's How To Eat Fondue Like The Swiss

So you’re sitting down to your cheese fondue, Switzerland’s (recent) national dish. If you don’t want to become a social pariah you’ll want to eat like the Swiss. We’ve put together a helpful guide that’ll prepare you to eat this cheesy broth like a pro.

Get that tongue outta there

Fondue is a communal dish, right? You wouldn’t someone slavering all over your tap water would you? That’s exactly why polite fondue etiquette demands that you should only use your front teeth to take the bread from your fork. That fork is going to go back into the pot for more. So, the Swiss, and probably everyone else, don’t want your lips all over their cheese. Keep that tongue and those lips in check.

Leave out the bubbles and chill

The Swiss are adamant that fondue should only be eaten with a white, preferably, dry wine (it supposedly helps digestion). Anyone, including complete strangers, are happy to impart this deeply ingrained piece of wisdom. Drinking anything else, particularly cold or fizzy drinks like Coca Cola, is not only ill advised, but can cause potentially fatal stomach cramps (so some will tell you). Sadly for the Swiss, this is more than likely complete baloney. It seems that your own physiology is more important than what you drink. White wine generally makes you feel fuller, but having something chilled (or a coke if you can’t resist) probably isn’t going to kill you, it’ll just make you a social outcast. Shame.

Oh, your ill? That’s a shame

For obvious reasons, similar to above, if you’re ill you should sit out the fondue and order something else instead.

No double-dipping

If you are unlucky enough to gnaw off all the cheese from your bread on the first bite, under no circumstances should you dunk it back in. This heinous ‘double-dipping’ is frowned upon and will earn you a cold look and a tut. Nobody likes those.

Take a shot before, during or after your meal

Drinking a shot of kirsch before, during or after your meal is a common sight in Switzerland. It’s supposed to help you digest all that cheese. But just like the whole wine-with-cheese myth, this is likely also some alternative facts laid down by the Swiss. If you’re up for an argument you can tell your dining companions that scientific evidence suggests they are wrong, or you can just zip it and down your drink.

Don’t forget the nun

La religieuse, or the nun, is that crusty part of the fondue which is left once all the molten cheese has been scoffed. It’s called this because, apparently, it looks like the cap of a nun once it’s been scraped off the bottom. The Swiss will tell you that it’s a cardinal sin to leave her uneaten. So, make room for her, unless you want a civil disobedience order coming your way.

Don’t drop your bread

Before digging into your fondue, you’ll probably be told that anyone who drops their bread into the pot has to pay for the whole meal for everyone. Laughs will ensue and everyone will start eating. But be aware, this quirky ritual can, and will, be enforced if you dunk your bread too forcefully.

Keep a steady hand if you don’t want to foot the bill

Save

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.