The Academy Awards is a glam and glittering affair on the small screen, but in our homes we prefer the laid-back, casual atmosphere of friends and family, perhaps gathered around the table for a pre-Oscar meal or just a friendly out-of-the-norm get-together. With an electric raclette as the centrepiece, start your Oscar party with shrimp sizzling on the grill top. Then turn the spotlight to cheese – melting it under the grill and slathering it over potatoes or colourful vegetables, smoky or cured meats and fish – and, of course, pickles. On with the show!

What is raclette cheese?
A mellow cow's milk cheese with flavours and aromas of butter and nuts, raclette has a firm-yet-supple texture that melts beautifully when heated. The word raclette (from the French racler, or "to scrape") goes back to the days when Swiss cow herders used to melt raclette cheese on rocks close to glowing coals to scrape over food. Raclette cheese is worth seeking out at specialty food stores, but other melting cheeses also make for a good party.

Raclette dinner party work schedule

2 days ahead (recipes on page 2):

Make Tarragon Vinaigrette recipe.

Make Lemon Chive Aïoli recipe.

Make batter for Ginger Molasses Tuiles recipe.

Make Kirsch Syrup recipe for dessert

Day before:

Slice cheese and sausages for raclette recipe.

Cook broccoli and potatoes for raclette recipe.

Cut pineapple for dessert.

Day of:

Bake Ginger Molasses Tuiles recipe.

Assemble Shrimp and Vegetables Skewers recipe.

Put pickles, broccoli and baby corn into bowls.

Prepare salad greens.

At dinnertime:

Heat raclette grill in centre of table.

Place skewers, aïoli and salad on table.

Reheat potatoes while enjoying first course.

Set out all raclette ingredients.

For a light dessert, toss pineapple with kirsch syrup.

How to serve and eat raclette:

For the purist: Quarter potatoes; place on plate. Place 1 slice cheese in raclette tray; broil under raclette broiler until molten hot, melted and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Scrape over potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika and pepper to taste. Add pickles.

For variety: Arrange piece each of sausage, broccoli and baby corn in raclette tray; top with cheese and broil under raclette broiler.

For action: Chop potatoes; place in raclette tray. Top with cheese and broil under raclette broiler while grilling sausage on top portion of raclette grill.

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