Vol. 4, No. 10, October 2007
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Fun with Fondue
SIMPLY FONDUE Hamilton Commons 4215 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing• 609-677-1600
Opened by owners Kay and Andrew Reichel in mid-June, the 150-seat eatery offers a fun-yet-sophisticated atmosphere. All cooking is done on a personal burner surface at each granite tabletop.
Mays Landing is the first East Coast franchise of the Dallas-based restaurant group, which has plans for 17 outlets nationwide. The interior chic décor reflects a stylish eye for design. Redwood barstools match the cherry wood paneling of the high-backed booths. Rust-colored hanging lamps and fixtures complete the soft ambiance. The Reichels say they personally shopped with the franchisers throughout the U.S. to select the perfect furnishings.
Customers and servers, all trained to create succulent dishes, participate in the cooking and preparation. Table settings include silverware and dipping skewers. Five cheese fondues ($15) and four salads ($7) may be ordered a la carte, but dinners are designed for two at $37 per person.
Complete dinners include four courses—cheese fondue; salad; entrée plate that features a choice of 24 pieces of beef, chicken, fish, seafood or pork, served with complementary vegetables; and a chocolate dessert fondue. The Lobster Extravaganza entrée for two—priced at $110 per couple—includes a bottle of wine and a 10-ounce lobster tail.
The children’s menu adds extra cheese, beef, chicken, shrimp, vegetables and ravioli, unlimited soft drinks and chocolate for $12. On Sundays, each child under 12 eats for free with one adult meal.
Entrees are cooked with one of several broths or trans fat and cholesterol-free oils. Simply Fondue is vegetarian-friendly, and all items may be cooked without alcohol or beer.
Fourteen desserts blend different chocolates with multiple ingredients, including nuts, marshmallow crème, liqueurs and coconut. Flambéed tableside, they are served with a plate of angel food cake, brownies, fruit slices, Rice Crispies squares and cinnamon sugar cheese balls. For those who are too full, Simply Fondue will distribute a “dessert voucher,” redeemable anytime for the dessert of choice.
Simply Fondue’s bar serves 40 martinis, numerous specialty coffees and dessert liquors. The bar also stocks several wines and beers.
With proper identification, casino employees receive a 20 percent discount on food. Simply Fondue offers weekly specials. Happy Hour is Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with $6 martinis and $2.50 bottled beer. Other promotions include Monday’s “Ladies Lite,” a $34.95 cheese fondue, salad and chocolate meal for two; “Two for Tuesday,” a $49.95 three-course dinner; and Thursday’s Date Night, dinner for two and a bottle of wine for $69.95.
Two private party rooms are available. The owners encourage early reservations for holiday parties.
Dinner hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday. Weekend hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations and major credit cards are accepted, and there is free parking.
Chef's Corner
Fondue Fundamentals
Cheese fondue was originally created out of necessity when foods became scarce during the cold Swiss winters. Stale cheese was melted and combined with white wine and seasonings to create new dishes. Today, fondue has become more than a dining option; it is a stylish and fun way to eat.
Here are some helpful hints for the next time you fondue.
1. Fondue foods should be cut into bite-size pieces for easy dipping. Strawberries, medium shrimp and scallops are already an optimum size, but larger foods like bread, cakes, meats or cheese should be cut into 1-inch cubes for ideal skewing size.
2. You are dipping from a communal pot, so keep your fingers and lips away from the pot and avoid double-dipping.
3. Most fondue fans use cheese or chocolate that is best suited for a ceramic pot. Be sure to keep the fondues at a low temperature (120 degrees) to avoid boiling or burning.
4. For the kids a sure-fire pleaser is any dessert food that can be dipped in milk chocolate. Pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos top the popularity charts.
One final fondue thought; according to Simply Fondue’s website, fondue eaters should be sure not to drop any meat or fruit into the pot, as legend has it that those who lose their food have to kiss the person sitting next to them or pay the entire bill.
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