C’est magnifique!, originally uploaded by Debi Lilly of aperfectevent on flickr.

I am so excited – finally after weeks of searching the city I am the proud owner of my very own Raclette Grill. Tres bien!

Our neighbors are French, and had us over for their favorite traditional winter meal, raclette. I assumed it was their version of fondue, and of course couldn’t wait.

However, upon arrival, I was fascinated with their 20 year old wedding gift, the Raclette Grill. I thought I had seen everything everywhere cuisine inspired…but now realized I have never spent the perfect winter eve raclette-ing!

The real fun is the interactive, tasting style menu. Florence and Pierre served sausage, potatoes, pearl onions, cornichon, baguette and more. It was so lovely and colorful – the table looked gorgeous. The raclette cheese is sliced in bowls, and melts perfectly within minutes inside your own personal petite raclette pan, under the heat source. Delicious!

My second favorite detail is using the teeny tiny wooden spreader to flip the melted cheese from pan to plate. I brought dozens of these back from Paris last summer, and have been dreaming up a way to start using them. Voila!

This model is from Sur la Table, but of course. I debut it tomorrow on ABC News for my taped "Valentine’s Day In" segment. I will post the air date/time once it is set sometime next week.

Cheers to an official raclette!