We were introduced to using a raclette table-top grill by German friends years ago and just had to get one ourselves. It's a bit of an investment at around $100, but we use it fairly regularly throughout the colder months, not only for raclette dinners but also for making Swedish pancakes. (The reverse side of the grill top has two circular indents which are great for pancakes and crepes.)

Raclette comes from Switzerland and there's a Wikipedia article that describes its history. Fondue restaurants sometimes offer raclette dinners, although I've never been to one to try it out. Our German friends considered raclette something you'd do only in winter, but we've used it whenever we felt like it on cool days.

At a raclette dinner, people make their own combinations of the offered ingredients and cook them right on or in the grill that is in front of them on the table. The grill's heat also warms the guests and meals cooked in this way can linger on for quite a while. We've used the grill with kids too, seating the younger ones farther away from the grill and letting them make their own combinations in the little dishes for an adult to place under the broiler. They love it and always want to try what they've cooked.

Raclette dinners for us usually include the traditional small boiled potatoes, gherkins, meats (such as prosciutto, salami, and ham), sliced peppers, tomato, onion, and mushrooms. We use a variety of cheeses, though we've used actual raclette cheese a few times. We have also added asparagus, zucchini, baby spinach leaves, and sliced baguette. I'm sure the Swiss would frown, but we've also added hot dogs on occasion!

Before the dinner, you need to boil the potatoes. Then slice the cheese, meat, veggies, and bread and place them on platters. We've found it handy to split the ingredients up onto two separate trays, one for each side of the table. Don't forget the gherkins. I know it sounds weird, but potatoes, gherkins, and melted cheese do taste good together. It's also useful to have a small pitcher of olive oil and some tongs that are safe for the non-stick grill top.

Our grill came with 8 pans, making me think it would be big enough for 8 people. With the amount of food and plates on the table, though, I think 6 is a more reasonable number. When people can't reach the grill, they miss out on some of the fun of doing this type of meal in the first place.

With a tiny bit of oil on top of the grill, start cooking some of the veggies. People can then help themselves to the various ingredients and make combinations to cook in their own pans under the broiler. The only things we cook on the grill without any oil are the baguette slices and baby spinach leaves. The bread gets toasted and the leaves turn into "chips" that taste really good with a little sea salt on them.

My parents have taken their raclette on trips in their RV. They plug it into the campsite's electrical outlet and cook out on the picnic table instead of heating up the RV kitchen. Other people have used theirs to cook fajitas at the table. The raclette is similar to other electric grills but offers the added feature of the broiler level for melting the cheese on top of your creations. The broiler can also be used to make really tasty desserts like bananas with a little liquor or apples with brown sugar and butter.

There are several raclette cookbooks available if you'd like a little more guidance. I don't own any and can't recommend one over another, but I'll put a few options below, to point you in the right direction.