Until quite recently, I was a fondue virgin. Sure, I'd melted cheddar and chocolate chips over the stove at home, but that, as I now know, is the stuff of amateurs.

So, while in NYC over the holidays, I had my very first fondue restaurant experience at a cozy little place called The Bourgeois Pig in the East Village. I stumbled across it by the fortuitous combination of a stubborn cheese craving and the fact that the nearest Melting Pot was over the river and through the woods in Hoboken, NJ.

Lucky me, because the Bourgeois Pig was fantastic.

The prices were reasonable, the wait staff was friendly, and the fondues, which came with enough bread, fresh fruit, crudites, tangy gherkin pickles and rosemary-roasted potatoes for two, were nothing less than superb. I do feel obliged to mention to you carnivores out there that there was no meat to be found anywhere on the menu. But with the array of delectable fondues, appetizers and drinks, however, it's likely you won't even notice.

My favorite was the blue cheese fondue with honey, and I might point out that I don't normally care for blue cheese. But add honey, and the result is a delightful amalgam of flavors with just the right touch of sweetness. The other cheese fondues we tried were equally yummy, and the decadent dark chocolate one that topped off the meal left my taste buds happily dancing the cha-cha.

Verdict: If you won't miss the meat, you might think this place a dream. And bring a date--with the candlelit interior and plush, mismatched chairs, the ambience is perfect for an intimate rendezvous.

The Bourgeois Pig
111 E. 7th St. (between 1st Ave. & Ave. A)
New York, NY 10009

Posted by: PecanPieOhMy
Post Date: 4/10/08
*picture courtesy of New York magazine, Michelle Hom

Labels: goodeats, ShoutsOfAdoration