How to choose ... a fondue set
It has been off the food-fashion menu for a while, but fondue is 'hot' once again, especially so now since this type of hearty food is perfect for the cooler weather.
What is it? At its most basic, it's a deep bowl perched several centimetres above a base that holds a small heating element, usually a methanol burner. The set almost always comes with slim, long forks that are used to dip the ingredients into the bowl. The fancier (and more expensive) versions are made of more attractive metals, have colour-coded dipping forks - so diners don't confuse theirs with that of the person sitting next to them - and can even be heated with electricity.
What's it used for? Various types of fondue, obviously, such as cheese, meat and chocolate. Unfortunately, that's about all it's good for - the heating element isn't strong enough to cook anything on its own. For meat fondues, for instance, the oil is heated on the stove before being poured into the fondue bowl.
What to look for: The bowl holding the cheese (or oil or chocolate) should be heavy - if it's flimsy, the heat from the burner below will concentrate on one spot and burn the ingredients inside. Even if the heat comes from a simple methanol burner, it should be adjustable - usually by increasing or decreasing the size of the vent.
What else? It's not necessary to have a fondue set to serve fondue, but it does make the occasion more fun.