Raclette Night at Antonelli's Cheese House

My friends and I enjoyed a delicious raclette night at Antonelli’s, a local Austin cheese shop. It was a fun experience and I want to share all the cheesy details.

What is Raclette?

First, you’re probably thinking, “what is raclette?”

As Antonelli’s describes it: “Raclette comes from the French word racler meaning to scrape. In France and Switzerland, raclette refers to a cheese, a machine, and a dish. Quite simply? It’s a cheese that traditionally was melted fireside during winter months and scraped onto a plate of potatoes, cornichon pickles, and cured meats.”

So, we take a semi-soft cheese, continuously heat it under a lamp, and then scrape the hot, melted cheese onto our plates. It’s like a deconstructed grilled cheese. Because what is better than cheese? MELTED CHEESE.

Experiencing Raclette Night at Antonelli’s

When a friend asked if I wanted a spot at their table of six, it was an easy answer. Antonelli’s reserves by the table for this event ($275 per table, so about $45 per person), because it’s quite a production and sharing the interactive experience with friends is more fun.

Antonelli’s Cheese House is a cute building across from their cheese shop where all of their classes and events take place. It’s a cozy, old house with high tables and mood lighting.

It’s BYOB, so stop by their cheese shop before an event to grab a bottle of wine. They usually have recommendations set out.

After we were all settled in and the first bottle of wine was popped, our event began with a tasting of three cheeses. A soft cheese with sweet mustard seeds, a firm cheese with onion jam, and a blue cheese with fig jam. The perfect combinations, don’t you think? I loved all three cheeses and pairings.

Then it was time for the main event – the raclette! Each table had a raclette machine and we passed around plates with accompaniments such as potatoes, pickled goods, and cured meats as the cheese heated up under the lamp. When the cheese was melted and crisp, we (whoever was sitting closest) scraped it onto our plates. The cheese was hot and crispy and this smorgasbord was full of delicious.

Can you believe we finished a quarter wheel of cheese, about three pounds?! Just kidding. This is what we had left and of course, we took the leftovers home for later.

This interactive experience was a fun time and we left with full and happy bellies!

Cheese Dreams Come True at Antonelli’s

John and Kendall Antonelli opened their shop in 2010 and have encouraged Austin to discover amazing, quality cheese from around the world. Their passion for the Slow Food movement, the local community, and of course, cheese have made their shop a beloved place in Austin.

This was my third class/event I’ve attended at Antonelli’s, and I’ve always enjoyed my experience. (I’ve also gone to a 101 class and a cheese and jam pairing class.) They host a variety of events – from cheese pairings with cookies or chocolate to bus tours – year-round that are perfect for date night or group events like a bachelorette party. Round up your friends and make a reservation!

At their Cheese Shop across the street, you can shop and pick up cheese and accompaniments like craft chocolate or a bottle of wine. I love doing this for a date night at home or a cheese plate for a party. You can also order a beautiful cheese tray from them. If you’re eating out, look for Antonelli’s cheese on restaurant menus.