Eater DC: Warm Up with Raclette, The Gooey Cheese Now Appearing on DC Menus

From Eater DC by Lani Furbank:

“When the temperatures drop, take the advice of the people of Switzerland, who have the best answer to cold weather: hot cheese. But not just any hot cheese. On dark winter nights, the Swiss eat raclette.

Raclette is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese made in the French and Swiss Alps, but it is also the name of a soul-warming meal that is reminiscent of fondue. Using a fire or a specialty grill, a half wheel of cheese is melted and then scraped onto a plate, where it is accompanied by assorted vegetables and meats. (The word raclette comes from the French racler, which means to scrape.)

Many die-hard raclette fans have their own appliances to enjoy the melted indulgence whenever they please, but for the uninitiated, there are a few D.C. restaurants that can facilitate the experience. Here’s where to warm up with raclette this winter.

ENO Wine Bar

2810 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, ENO Wine Bar hosts a pop-up raclette station. Diners can approach the station to have the cheese scraped over savory bites like crusty bread, baby golden potatoes, pearl onions, cornichon pickles, and charcuterie. Of course, wine pairings are also available.

Homestead

3911 Georgia Ave. NW

Bring a group to tackle the raclette platter at Homestead, which features herb-roasted fingerling potatoes smothered in melted cheese.

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St. NW

The only thing better than melted cheese is free melted cheese. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, patrons in the bar area can get a complementary helping of raclette. There will also be traditional accompaniments on offer, including boiled pee wee potatoes and gherkin pickles.”

Read about the rest of the places to find raclette HERE!

Featured image courtesy of the Four Seasons Washington.