If I was ever to get caught up in the ebb and flow of life, and forget where I was – rest assured I could always turn to the back of a trashy TV guide magazine, see the mail order foie gras advertisements and remember “Ahh, yes… France.”

It was one of those “only in France” moments when I saw that rather than 50 steak knives for £7.99 or latest mobile phone ringtones, the humble French punter can have three blocs de foie gras de canard for only 19,90€. My, my – not only but also! It combines the finest of French traditions; just take a little of the recently revived popular 1960s French game show Intervilles with the ducks, geese and truffles of the Périgord – and have yourself the ultimate night in.

This is not going to be a post about an evening watching a shaky home video of the family matriarchs demonstrating the process of making foie gras to future generations. Instead, I want to talk about raclette.

I’m not sure what I’ve got myself in for, because twice over the weekend it had been revealed in separate company that I’d never before had raclette. Swiss-style fondue (cheese) – yes; but raclette, Bourguignon-style fondue (oil) or Bouillon fondue – no. Well… yes for the latter, but only in China.

Indignation at my lack of raclette turned to a hasty and hearty promise that we’d sample some on my next visit. Twice.

It’s shaping up to be a cheesy January…

The third conversation about raclette offered something more concrete – coincidently it was our meal for the Christmas evening of the 24th. A brief word for the uninitiated – raclette consists of a central heating device and individual toasting trays. Slap a slab of cheese onto the grilling plate, place in under the flame and then choose your munitions. Once the cheese is liquid, slide and slop it over the unsuspecting arrangement of cold meats, steamed potato, sliced mushroom and cherry tomatoes. Imagine a pizza without a base, with the ingredients drowned in a river of salted or herbed cow’s milk cheese.

For the record: there were no serious contenders this year for the family record of 16 slices of cheese…

Merry Christmas!