Fonduta alla Valdostana

This creamy fondue hails from the Italian Aosta Valley. It is made with a combination of Fontina cheese, egg yolks, milk, and flour. The ingredients are combined and heated until the mixture is well-incorporated and attains its creamy, dense texture. Aosta-style fondue is sometimes enriched with the addition of white truffle shavings which can be incorporated in the fondue or served on the side. The oldest written mention of the dish dates back to 1854 when a recipe for the truffle based version was published in Trattato di cucina, pasticceria moderna, credenza e relativa confettureria—a cookbook written by the Italian author Giovanni Vialardi. The dish is usually seasoned with white pepper, and it is traditionally prepared in a ceramic, cast iron, or copper pot (caquelon). Like other types of fondue, this Italian version is mainly served as a communal dish with diced bread on the side, but the Aosta Valley fonduta is always eaten with a spoon - you should put the diced, toasted bread in your spoon, then dip the whole thing in the creamy fondue.