The Inspiration: Fondue’s the perfect culinary activity for Valentine’s Day, it’s romantic and fun. We decided to test three different varieties: tea light, electric and fuel, to understand how each works, and which is best for different occasions.
The Testers: Sweetspot.ca’s Editorial Team (taste testing chocolate fondue is a tough job, we know, but somebody’s gotta do it).
The Products:
1. KSP Basic Mini Fondue Set, $6. Available at www.kitchenstuffplus.com
2. Toastess Silhouette Fondue Maker, $70. Available at www.sears.ca
3. Bodum Fondue Set, $100. Available at www.crateandbarrel.com
The Results:
KSP Basic Mini Fondue Set
First Impression: This was the most basic of the bunch. It’s pretty small in size, ideal for two people or a small dinner group.
Usability: Assembly was simple, but without any instructions, we had to guesstimate ingredients and measurements. Contrary to our expectations, it actually became quite hot, and its small size made dipping fruit easy (fruit that slipped was easily salvaged).
Taste: We had mixed reviews on taste. Some found it to be a little grainy (more cream would have improved it) others found it to have a great consistency. It stuck really well to the fruit.
Overall Impression: We liked the simplicity of this one, but wish we’d had instructions. After a couple uses, we’d probably be able to nail down the right measurements ourselves.
Toastess Silhouette Fondue Maker 
First Impression: The simple fact that it’s electric made it look easy to use. The instruction manual was also easy to follow and had some great fondue ideas. Assembly was simple; a Teflon pot (which is great for sticky fondue nights) sits in a base, with a magnetically attached electric cord. It wasn’t the prettiest but it’s a wide pot and would be great for parties.
Usability: The short electric cord made it tricky to set up, and means we probably couldn’t feature it in the middle of a dinner table. It was the easiest to use for melting chocolate though. We let it heat, added the cream, then the chipits, and stirred until they were blended. Because the bowl was so wide, the chocolate was a little shallow, so it’s best to save this one for a big party, when you can really fill it up.
Taste: We should have tested the temperature first, because this one was a little too hot on first taste. The temperature dial made it easy to adjust, and once we found the right temperature it was very tasty, and the chocolate was perfectly melted.
Overall Impression: This one would be great for parties. The set up was so simple, and it was the easiest to clean.
Bodum Fondue Set 
First Impression: This one required a gel fuel canister, which was a little intimidating, but actually pretty easy to use (though we recommend using a long matchstick to avoid getting too close). The instruction manual had some great recipes to test out, ones we’d never even imagined (fondue tex mex, anyone?). We also loved the design. The pot was sleek, and the prongs were cute, they had dice-like dots at the end of the handle to avoid mix-ups.
Usability: This one took a little more time to set up; it’s several more pieces than the other two. We loved the glass insert, which sits in boiling water in the chrome pot and found it heated pretty quickly. The pot also had grooves to rest your prong in, which were handy.
Taste: We really enjoyed the taste of this one. It was the most blended of all three and the consistency was perfect: it stuck to the fruit without dripping. The smell of the fuel was a little strong though, so use it in a well ventilated space.
Overall Impression: For an upscale evening, this one is perfect. The chocolate was melted nicely, the prongs gripped the fruit well, and the pot was very stylish.
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