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Raclette, a seasonal specialty for CILFA students!

Temperatures had dropped, so it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a delicious local cheese specialty: raclette.

The students of CILFA had an appointment at their teacher Frédéric to discover or rediscover a Savoyard specialty: raclette.

They were able to taste several varieties: plain raclette, smoked raclette (also called Brézain), raw-milk raclette, raclette with Bündnerfleisch, a mustard-flavored raclette, and finally, a pepper-flavored raclette.

The raclette was served with potatoes, cold cuts (rosette, bacon, pancetta, and Savoie cured ham), pickles, and salad. To accompany this specialty, the students drank white wines from Savoie (Abymes, Apremont, Chignin) and local fruit juices. French as a Foreign Language was not overlooked during this educational activity; the atmosphere was great, and the students got plenty of practice speaking French.

Some information about raclette:

– Raclette originated in the 12th century in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. It is now produced in several regions of France (Savoie, Franche-Comté, Auvergne, and even Brittany) and Switzerland.
– Traditionally, shepherds would cut the cheese wheels in half, place them in the fireplace, and scrape the melted cheese onto a slice of bread or their potatoes.
– In France, this dish became popular with the rise of winter sports in the 1960s.

– These days, when you enjoy this dish in Switzerland, it’s still sometimes a professional scraper who fills your plate.

– In some restaurants in France, there are raclette ovens built right into the table, and the diners are responsible for scraping the cheese themselves.

To enjoy some delicious raclette and other cheese specialties in Annecy, you can visit the restaurant Le Fréti: http://www.lefreti.fr/

If you’re looking to buy some excellent cheeses in Annecy, check out the Gay cheese shop: http://pierre-gay.business.site/

And to learn all about Savoie raclette: http://www.marque-savoie.com/produits-agrees-marque-savoie/fromages-et-produits-laitiers/fromages-de-savoie/