French television presenter Xenia Buet presented a range of raclette innovations on TF1 morning show Bonjour! La Matinale TF1 to mark an early start to the cheese-melting season across France.
Falling autumn temperatures have prompted shoppers to buy melting cheeses earlier than usual, with French supermarket aisles already displaying stocked shelves of sliced dairy packs alongside updated tabletop appliances.
Reviewing the new products during the programme's Top ou Stop consumer segment, Buet showed viewers an array of unconventional ingredients, including cheeses seasoned with wild mushrooms, crushed pepper, and onion. Manufacturers are also promoting combined boards that present cheese and charcuterie together, as well as hybrid two-in-one machines that merge raclette grills with fondue bowls to appeal to diners who normally avoid melted cheese.
Candle heat and integrated extractor fans
Among the hardware demonstrated on set was a compact, candle-powered portable raclette unit priced at 12.90 euros. Designed for outdoor use without an electrical socket, the nomadic cheese melter is aimed at hikers and picnic gatherings, and the concept quickly won over the morning broadcast team.
Buet also tested a 57-euro electric table grill fitted with a built-in extractor hood to tackle the heavy, lingering aromas of hot cheese. The built-in extraction fan draws fumes directly from the cooking surface, preventing strong smells from settling into curtains and living room furniture for days after a meal.
Beyond savoury dining, the filtered unit allows users to bake individual chocolate fondants in the central cooking bowl. The sweet addition offers families a dessert option without the need to wash up or replace their tabletop equipment midway through dinner.
Alpine tradition in French homes
Raclette originated in the alpine Savoie region of south-eastern France and neighbouring Switzerland as a hearty winter meal centred on scraping melted wheels of cheese over boiled potatoes, cured meats, and pickled gherkins. In recent decades it has become one of the most widespread communal dining traditions in French households, typically served on electric tabletop grills during cold winter evenings.
TF1, France's largest commercial television network, regularly features consumer product tests on Bonjour! La Matinale TF1 as retailers adapt traditional seasonal foods for modern, fast-paced lifestyles.
The new modular appliances and portable designs are intended to transform raclette from an occasional midwinter feast into a year-round dining option. The retail launch gives French consumers alternative dining ideas well before the official arrival of winter.
