What is raclette?

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While raclette is of Swiss origin, the word 'raclette' is derived from the French word 'racler', which means 'to scrape'.

Additionally, raclette is not only the name of the cheese, it is also the name of the dish...and the machine that melts the raclette cheese to make the raclette dish?  It's called a raclette machine. 

So, you use raclette to make raclette on the raclette machine.

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Raclette is\

 cheese that is heated up and then scraped onto a plate of food which is then promptly consumed resulting in immense joy and satisfaction.

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Traditionally, raclette is served atop boiled new potatoes, cornichons, pickled onions, bread, and sausage.  On Sundays at Cheese Shop 831, that's exactly what we do!

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In Alpine shepherds and farmers were joyouspreserve milk surplus during the abundant grazing months. The cheese-making process allowed them to enjoy its flavors during the long, harsh winters when fresh milk was scarce. Over time, this cheese became an integral part of the local culture, with communities gathering for heartwarming meals around the melted cheese.

According to medieval texts, dishes consisting of melted cheese have been popular as far back as 1291. Melting raclette-type cheese in front of a fire has been documented in Valais, Switzerland since 1574. 

It is said that it was originally consumed by peasants in the mountainous Alpine regions of the Swiss cantons of Valais and Fribourg, and in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions of France.

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 Traditionally, cow herders carried cheese with them when they were moving cows to or from pastures up in the mountains. In the evening, the cheese would be placed next to a campfire for softening, then scraped onto bread. Melting raclette-type cheese in front of a fire is attested in Valais since 1574. Since 1875, the French term raclette is commonly used for this dish. At the 1909 Cantonal Exhibition of Sion, raclette was promoted as a national dish of Valais. Raclette eventually gained national (and international) popularity from the 1964 National Exhibition.[7]

Originating in Switzerland, Raclette was created by Alpine shepherds and farmers to preserve milk surplus during the abundant grazing months. The cheese-making process allowed them to enjoy its flavors during the long, harsh winters when fresh milk was scarce. Over time, this cheese became an integral part of the local culture, with communities gathering for heartwarming meals around the melted cheese.