Dec 1, 2002 | Marmot, Winter 2002

Fondue Fridays at Raven Lodge

Many North Americans will remember fondue as a home party craze in the '70s. But did you know that the history of the fondue is truly epic?

Mount Washington will add to the communal cuisine this winter with their Fondue Fridays at Raven Lodge.

One of the earliest known references to a fondue is in Homer’s Iliad (Song XI). However, the Swiss take credit for the popular fondue. And while the Swiss made fondue out of necessity – they needed to soften their cheese by heating it with wine in a large pot in order to eat it – Mount Washington is making fondue for pure bliss.

Build up your appetite for an alpine fondue with an hour of snowshoeing by the light of your own headlamp. The snowshoe trek begins at 5 p.m. every Friday.

Once inside, retire to the cosy ambience of the great room, where a towering fireplace will warm up your frosty toes. Dinner begins with a cheese fondue, followed by a meat and vegetable fondue and culminating with a chocolate fondue with your choice of fresh fruit, tea or coffee. ” It’s really cool,” says Mount Washington director of marketing Karen Bonell. “I think people, especially those on vacation, will really value this.”

Fondue Fridays cost $39 per person (children 12 and under are half price) and pre-booking is required. Phone (250) 338-1386 for more information.

MORE FOOD OPTIONS INTRODUCED

The introduction of Fondue Fridays is in line with Mount Washington’s goal of expanding and theming the food and beverage experience at the Alpine Resort, says Food and Beverage Manager Alfredo Yabut. ” As you know, two years ago we opened the Mountain Wok Chinese Food, then the Pie in the Sky Pizza last year,” Yabut said. “This year we will be experimenting with sushi rolls in what we call Wasabi Wednesday in Fat Teddy’s.”

Other new things to look for on the food and beverage side are a la carte dinners in the Raven Lodge from Thursday to Sunday, and a revamped décor in Fireweeds Restaurant in the Alpine Lodge. The old Nordic Lodge has been revamped and renamed the Sunset Pasta Bar.

” We are also looking forward to our first year of evening snowshoe tours followed by a three-course fondue dinner,” Yabut said.

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