Entertaining

How to Host a Holiday Fondue Party

  • Entertaining
  • ByDianne O'Connor
  • October 2025

Hosting a dinner party for six or eight guests can (and should) be enjoyable for the host. A common thread of the most successful and most memorable hosting experiences involve casual social interactions with unhurried cooking and group participation. Whether it is passing oyster shucking tools (and safety gloves!) to guests in the summer for a shucking and slurping supper, or a fall fire pit backyard ‘tailgate’ grilling burgers over the fire before a Saturday college football game on TV, these relaxed cook-your-own meal style get togethers create an opportunity to slow down and connect with one another. Although lacking in perfection and some inevitable food on the floor moments, these social eating opportunities create lasting memories.

Eating fondue is both a social and a culinary tradition cherished during the cold winter months. Follow along to learn how to host the ultimate fondue party.

Illustration of a fondue set with two forks and a small pot over a flame on a transparent background

The Essential Tools

Hosting is always easier with the right tools. I have tried nearly every fondue pot and have finally settled on a commercial one made by Swiss Mar that is designed for use in restaurants and maintains an even heat so that guests can linger longer without worrying that the cheese will seize. Our collection includes a variety of pots for every size gathering.

Black cast iron fondue pot on a matching stand with decorative elements on a white background

The Family-Style Pot

Swissmar Professional Cast Iron Fondue Pot

Our family-sized Swiss designed commercial pot keeps cheese hot longer. In our busting-at-the-seams family, I need a pot for each end of the table—usually one pot for four people allows for comfortable reaching and fork dunking.

Black cast iron fondue pot with handle on a white background

For Larger Parties

Staub Cast Iron 12 Ounce Cheese Fondue

For larger groups and longer tables, smaller Staub fondue pots are perfect for two-at-a-time dipping when set between guests. Our cheese for two Staub 12 ounce stove-to-table cheese fondue pot minimizes clean up.

Black fondue pot with four skewers on a white background

Just for Two

Staub Mini Fondue Set

The Staub Mini Fondue Set is a Valentine’s Day gift to remember. Alongside melted chocolate or caramel, these dishes make a sweet treat for a romantic night at home and are the perfect way to say, “I’m very fondue you.” 

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Illustration of a cheeses and bread chunks with a fondue fok on a transparent background

Fondue Traditions

Fondue as a dinner concept started in the 19th century in the Swiss and French regions of the Alps when people - out of necessity - needed to find uses for aged cheeses and dry breads during the winter months. Fresh foods simply were unavailable. We add some altitude to our at home fondue meals by roasting a tenderloin of beef (prepared in advance), blanching cauliflower and broccoli, slicing green apples and pears, tossing cocktail tomatoes into the mix, and seeking out the crustiest loaves of artisanal bread we can find. Folklore suggests that anyone who loses their food in the cheese must kiss the person sitting next to them. A peck on the cheek is all that is required, unless you serve a February 14th romantic chocolate fondue for two (a whole other story). At our house, we all think my husband intentionally drops his chunks of food. While he loves fondue as much as everyone in our family, he loves most of all the kisses on his forehead from his children that result from his fumbling.

The Best Cheeses for Fondue

Choosing the right cheese for fondue matters. Our recipe is a mixture of smooth-textured, creamy cheeses consisting of equal amounts of gruyère, Emmenthal, and comté that combine into a rich and complex velvety textured fondue. A spoonful of kirsch adds a depth of flavor that makes it an authentic Swiss, cold weather recipe. Once all the cheeses are added to your pot, stir in a zigzag pattern so that the mixture does not form into a ball but, instead, becomes melted and creamy. 

Try Our Recipe

Dunking Essentials

For the most impressive cheese fondue entertaining, choose a selection of dunking choices: bite-sized pieces of simply roasted filet mignon (may be prepared in advance and served room temperature), tiny blanched peewee potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and asparagus, cocktail tomatoes, green pears, crisp apples, and – the star of the show – bread cubes. While kitchen creativity is encouraged, we contend that the most important and not-to-be-missed fondue accompaniment is a crusty loaf of artisanal bread. Buy a loaf from your favorite local bakery and leave it on the counter uncovered overnight. The slightly dry and hardened bread will not shrivel up when dunked into the hot cheese. 

Folded brown napkin with striped pattern laid over a woodland placemat

Linens

Dress the Table

Setting the mood for a fondue party is a host's dream. We dress ours up up with Libeco linens and Kim Seybert Woodland Placemats (they look like a varnished slice of a tree trunk) that catch the ooey gooey cheese as it travels from pot to plate.

Set of four ceramic plates with decorative edges on a white background

Small Serving Plates

Serve Your Style

Our collection of vintage, artisan crafted, and heritage brand small serving plates make entertaining a reflection of your entertaining style. Mix and match vintage and new styles to create a tablescape unique to you.

Set of six fondue forks with wooden handles on a white background

Long Forks

Vintage Fondue Forks

Spear your favorite fondue accompaniments—bread cubes, vegetables, fruit, or meat—and dunk your long forks into pots of simmering cheese, chocolate, or caramel. Fondue forks contribute a serious fun factor to fondue entertaining.

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Illustration of a green wine bottle bottle and glass of white wine on a transparent background

Wine Pairings

The Swiss, the founders of fondue, contend that cheese should never be eaten without wine. A wine pairing elevates any fondue dish for those who choose to imbibe. Ninety Plus Cellars privately labels the world’s best wines and delivers them nationwide at affordable prices for consumers. While a light red wine would pair nicely with this dish, a crisp, dry, fruity white wine is preferred to complement the rich flavor of the cheese. Serve a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc for the ultimate fondue experience.

Vintage 1870s Copper Seven Pot Set Weston Table

Add some altitude to your at-home fondue meals by roasting a tenderloin of beef (prepared in advance), blanching cauliflower and broccoli, slicing green apples and pears, tossing cocktail tomatoes into the mix, and seeking out the crustiest loaves of artisanal bread.

Dianne O'Connor

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