The fondue is easy to set up and easy to make too! This is especially ideal for a teenage girl’s party. But it will also work great for adult dinners, New Year’s Eve parties, and family gatherings.

Here is the checklist of how to plan the next event:

Two weeks before the birthday party:

o Ask your youngster the names of her three to five favorite friends.

o Call your friends’ parents and ask if they have an email address so you can send an electronic birthday invitation.

o Visit the eVite.com website and with your daughter select a party invitation template to use. The service is free! This invitation website offers its guests to RSVP and even sends out a reminder notice.

o Remember to mention in the invitation that lunch (or dinner) is a fancy affair and your daughter should be dressed in a fun party dress. It is easier to have the party on a weekend day or night.

o If you don’t have your own fondue, ask your friends and neighbors if they have one you can borrow. Many thrift stores have fondue sets at very reasonable prices. Depending on your fondue set, you may need to purchase a sterno which can be purchased at any grocery store. Some are simple microwave-safe containers that sit on a hot plate, so no sterno is necessary.

o Be on the lookout for a fondue cooking oil sale. (peanut and sunflower work best). Plan on about 32 ounces for 4 to 6 people. For a cheaper, lower-fat alternative, consider using a seasoned vegetable broth, also known as bouillabaisse fondue.

o A lazy susan (a serving platter that rotates) makes fondue very easy to use. However, this is optional because you can also achieve the same thing by using various serving dishes on the table.

1 week before the birthday party:

Plan the menu with your daughter. Some ideas may include:

o Appetizer: French bread cheese fondue with a small salad. You can make an inexpensive salad dressing from scratch.

According to the GourmetSleuth.com website, the Swiss history of cheese fondue is explained as follows:

“Each component of a traditional Swiss fondue plays an important role. Most of the recipes we see for ‘traditional’ Swiss-style fondue are a combination of two cheeses, Gruyere and Emmenthaler. These two cheeses are combined because each cheese on its own it would only produce a blend that was either too spicy or too mild.The cheeses are most commonly melted in a dry white wine which helps keep the cheese away from direct heat as it melts, as well as to add flavor.Kirsch (a cherry brandy clear) was added if the cheese itself was too young to produce the desired acidity.

Since fondue is a ‘community’ meal, there are some basic guidelines to follow. To eat cheese fondue, pierce a piece of bread with a fondue fork and dip it into the pot. Turn the bread cube gently in the cheese to coat it. You will want to let the bread drip a bit before putting it in your mouth. This will allow the excess to drip back into the pot and also give it time to cool. When you take the bread to your mouth try not to touch the fork with your lips or tongue because the fork does go into the pot. Alternatively, you can use a dining fork to slide the bread off the fondue fork, then eat it with the second fork. This is probably more cumbersome than necessary.

To eat meat fondue, pierce a piece of meat and dip it into the hot oil, [or broth fondue which is less expensive.] Let stand until meat is cooked to your liking. Remove the fork and place it on your plate. Use your dining fork to slide the meat off of the fondue fork. Then use your regular fork to dip the meat into the sauce however you like. Then eat using your regular dining fork.”

o Main Course – chicken, pork or beef with vegetables such as mushrooms, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc.

o Desert: chocolate fondue with sponge cake, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows

o Drinks: This can be water with beautifully cut pieces of fruit, such as orange and lemon slices, in the bottom of the pitcher. You can also purchase a bottle of sparkling apple cider to toast in elegant glassware.

Look at your local grocery store circulars for sales of the different cheeses, chicken/pork/beef, and vegetables you will be using.

Research and select cheese fondue recipes, chocolate fondue recipes or desert fondue and meat fondue recipes.

Check your eVite invitation to determine how many guests will attend. For anyone who hasn’t responded, ask your daughter to ask her friend if she’s coming or not.

3 days before the birthday party:

o Ask your daughter to help you iron the tablecloth and napkins. Again, if she doesn’t have any, ask her friends or neighbors if she can borrow theirs. It makes no sense to buy table linen for a single event. The idea is to throw a birthday party on a tight budget.

o Create seat cards

o Choose the candles you will use

o Select plates, cutlery, and serving platters to make the table look great

1 day before the birthday party:

o Buy food. The freshest ingredients are always the best when serving fondue.

or bake the cake

o Setting the table the night before

o Ask your daughter to select the music and have it in order for the birthday party

o Create a flower arrangement with flowers from your own garden. If you don’t have flowers, buy a bouquet and use a vase you already have.

The day of the birthday party:

o Chop food in large bites. The fondue forks you use should have good-sized pieces of food to skewer so the food doesn’t fall off the fork.

o Place raw foods on serving plates. Presentation is everything, so take your time to make it beautiful.

o Light candles and blow out 10 minutes before guests arrive.

o Put on the selected music and have your daughter greet her guests.

Enjoy!

The presentation of the food, the table and your home will set the stage for an elegant birthday brunch. This is also fun for adult birthday parties!

Although all European countries serve fondue, it originated in Switzerland and the meals used standard ingredients that most households would have on hand.