To Fondue or Fon-Don’t: Our Experience Eating a Gallon of Cheese in the Swiss Alps
Last Updated on October 3, 2025 by Charlotte
I love the idea of Fondue in Switzerland. Friends coming together over a pot of gooey, melty warm cheese, sliced potatoes, and freshly baked bread. Cheese made from the milk of happy cows with bells that graze on wildflowers in alpine pastures, lovingly collected by gentle farmers. While I myself am not a purveyor in the world of fromage, I can appreciate a good cheese. But nothing could have prepared me for Fondue in real life.
But first, let me set the scene. It was fifty degrees F (10°C) in Wengen in early July, and despite the roiling clouds and early evening thunderstorms, we braved the storm in pursuit of Fondue. The chilly weather and rain lashing against the windows only added to the allure of a warm pot of cheese.
We stumbled into a restaurant, and in a stroke of luck, the host found us a table despite the restaurant being fully booked with reservations for the evening. Seated at our table, we saw only one option on the menu: “Fondue, $60 per person. Minimum of two people required to order.” I remember thinking to myself that $60 per person seemed a bit high for some melted cheese, even in Switzerland. But we ordered it anyway.
My jaw dropped as the waiter brought out a Dutch oven, a small burner, a loaf of cubed bread, and a plate of steamed potatoes. The Dutch oven was filled to the brim with cheese. At least a gallon (4 litres) of cheese. We looked at each other in silent horror. There was no way we could eat all of this! Shrugging, we dug in and started with the bread cubes on the dipping sticks. The cheese had a strong aroma, but a good flavor. The bread was soft and springy, with a pleasant texture.
After four potato slices, and a few cubes of bread, it felt like my tummy was going to burst at the seams. I hate wasting food, I really do, but I was at a loss for what to do. The sheer volume of cheese, along with my lactose intolerance, were not a compatible match. Stressed, our foreheads began to sweat as the cheese coma settled over us.
The periods between bites grew longer, and we pushed the cubes of bread back and forth across the table. Glaring at one another, I hissed “You eat it!”. My travel buddy took one for the team. Gathering strength, he pushed beyond his gastronomic limits and worked his way through a quarter of the Fondue, one bite at a time.
In the end, the Fondue won the battle, and we ceded defeat. I felt guilty seeing the disappointed expression on our waiter’s face as he came to clear the table and saw the remaining 3/4 of the pot of cheese. Perhaps we should have done more research and looked for establishments with smaller serving sizes. Even so, this was an experience we can now laugh about.
Just a heads-up: some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase. Your support helps to keep the blog running.
Was it Worth the Trip?
For me, this experience was a Fon-Don’t. I believe that it is important to at least try the local foods in destinations that you visit. You never know if a new cuisine could be the best thing you’ve tasted in your entire life. While this Fondue was not for me, I think I would have enjoyed the experience more if there were smaller serving sizes and a cheaper price tag.
