Help! What is this called?

[KaraBoo]

A few years, we visited a family in Germany. The mom fed all the kids early and then made a special fun meal for us adults. She had a bunch of food put out in little bowls and set down a sort of cone shaped grill-thing in the middle of the table. We each had a little pan (and I mean little, it was smaller than the palm of my hand) and we put food on it and stuck it in the side of the grill thingy for it to cook. I can't remember what the set was called! Help! Does any of this sound familiar?

Thanks!

[ewe+lamb]

Your title was intriguing so I jumped in LOL
It sounds like something we have in France for melting the cheese 'Raclette' - try and google raclette and see what you come up with. We often have the raclette thing underneath and a crepe maker on the top - something like this no? there are other styles but for the moment I have only found this one - http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/raclette.htm

[Hollycrand]

Yep, a Raclette maker. Very popular in Germany in the winter.

[sweetieberlin]

I love raclette!!!!! but the french way, not the way my german ils do it..

[ewe+lamb]

ok so now I need to ask how the 'germans' do it differently to the french - raclette of course!! LOL, is it not just with lots of different little crudites? boiled potatoes, and ham (if you eat meat)? I'm intrigued!! LOL

[sweetieberlin]

maybe my German ils are strange,

but when I lived in Paris, my fiance and his family (they were french) we ate it with raclette cheese, and from what I remember ham and potatoes.. put the ham and potatoes on the plate, heat the cheese and pour over.. so yummy..

my inlaws, dont use raclette cheese, they use gouda or something, and use raw veggies, ok, I will have to ask my husband tomorrow about what they use.. but it was def. not like in France!! I was so disapointed the first time we had it here!!

[KaraBoo]

omg, I can't believe it! That is exactly what it was! LOL

Hers didn't have that griddle thing on the top, though. She put out mushrooms, potatoes, meats, onions, zucchini and cheese for the top. It was all so delicious! And I love the whole ceremony of putting your little bits on the tiny grill thingies.

I'm so buying this now! LOL

[ewe+lamb]

I can't imagine using another cheese - the raclette has this wonderful sort of sweet nutty flavour, gouda just doesn't do it for me!! Anyway, we do it the french way apart from the ham, but lots of cooked/uncooked veg, prawns, crusty bread and pour over - mmmmm:, we spread a huge table cloth on the floor and sit and eat on the floor with the kids - it's such a great experience and so gets the kids trying new things!

[Jezzy]

Yum, I LOVE raclette too! We only use Raclette cheese, I normally buy swiss, french and german raclette cheese.
We have a raclette maker half of the top is stone (great for grilling) and the other half is a normal grill.