Kathryn Matthews brings the essence of Switzerland close to home with Rocky Mountain Raclette. As owner and executive chef, Matthews combines the culinary inspiration she’s found in the Alps with some of the best ingredients in Colorado.

You may be thinking cheese (of course), paired with potatoes, charcuterie, cornichons and pickled pearl onions. The melted Raclette cheese is traditionally scraped onto potatoes and bread.

“Mine is so much different,” explains Matthews, “because I combine it with the Rocky Mountains.”

Authenticity is at the heart of this unique culinary experience. Rocky Mountain Raclette is based in the Vail Valley, and new to the team is French pastry chef Sebastien Schmitt. He is from France, only about 40 minutes from the Swiss border, and has been eating Raclette at home with his family since he was a child.

Matthews has always provided delectable catering services, from a signature grill dinner to date nights and cocktail parties. In addition to the classic Swiss elements of the meal, Matthews includes a medley of vegetables to grill, as well as proteins like beef tenderloin, elk strip loin, buffalo sausage, shrimp and lobster tail.

The melted Raclette cheese and potatoes are then combined with the fresh beef tenderloin, elk, seafood and vegetables and served with a variety of dipping options like chimichurri, huckleberry sauce and herb butter to create your own flavor combinations.

It’s a versatile meal with something for everyone. Those with food allergies can be easily accommodated. Designing your own bites may feel overwhelming at first, but once you dive in it’s all about cultivating great conversation and taking in the flavors of the evening.

New this season, Rocky Mountain Raclette has introduced a new drop-off delivery option.

“We wanted to create a fun and safe dining option for tourists and locals alike to do at home during the pandemic,” shares Matthews. “Raclette is interactive and much more memorable than getting food to-go from a restaurant, so we thought it was the perfect time to launch this product as a delivery option.”

Stay at home with your friends and family and grill all the prepared food with the Raclette equipment provided. Everything is prepped and ready to go, so it makes the process really easy to do.

“The food is always hot and fresh since it is being grilled yourself,” she adds, “so there are no issues with food getting cold from the delivery process.”

Visit rockymountainraclette.com for pricing options and to learn more.

Originally published in the Spring 2021 issue

Seasonal Eats: Rocky Mountain Raclette