Feel free to call me Sizzle Melt Jen.
Welcome to my blog!
I started this blog project after recognizing two things:
The World is Starving for Authentic Connection
We have so many ways to connect in the world: online through social media posts, email, text, phone calls, and video calls and yet it seems people are more lonely than ever before, starving for genuine intimacy and authentic connection.. As a Gen Xer, I reminisce about a time when community wasn’t something you scrolled through, but something you lived. My childhood was a patchwork of shared experiences: riding bikes until the streetlights flickered on, sipping freeze pops in the summer heat, drinking straight from the garden hose, and playing arcade games in between enjoying a slice of pizza. It was a time defined by the thrill of neighborhood kickball games, summer camp picnics, and the simple joy of plucking and eating gooseberries from the bush. I remember the distinct sounds and smells of family BBQs, the anticipation of the ice cream truck’s melody, the warmth of campfires sharing s’mores, and the comfort of holiday dinner and game nights. Looking back at these moments I noticed they share a common characteristic: food and drink was seamlessly integrated into play activities. Whenever food and drink were woven into our shared play, the connection I felt to those around me deepened profoundly. I am committed to preserving that spirit and helping others rediscover the authentic interpersonal bond they crave in a world increasingly dominated by artificial interactions.
Raclette-Style Eating Hits the Spot When Your Appetite is for Good Food & Great Connection
When my husband (then fiance) and I were gifted our first raclette grill in 2014, we had no idea what to expect. We decided to give it a try with an open mind. We were surprised to have stumbled into this new and different style of eating. This slow-eating style of cooking was interactive, intentional, and contemplative instead of the hurried, unconscious fueling of the body we were so accustomed to. It allowed for discussion about the food and brainstorming food and seasoning combinations. It involved melting cheese over freshly grilled savory meats and veggies. And – being the kind of person who puts cheese on my cheese- what more could I want in a comfort-food experience than adding melted cheese to almost everything? Cooking on our table during the meal felt playful. It allowed for the individual customization we all love and also added to a cosy, communal-eating context.
Our dinner felt like a dating and discovery phase all over again. We were pleasantly surprised and felt like we stumbled onto something special. We decided to make a habit of planning raclette dinners together every 4-6 weeks. We also introduced others to the concept and some of those friends also enthusiastically added this into their regular dining repertoire. The more people we introduced to the concept, the more people were grateful for the discovery.
Over a decade later, it still hasn’t gotten old. We’re still discovering new ways to experiment with new food items or food themes to add to the grill and broiler pans. We’ve been through three different sized grills now over the years, outgrowing the mini-grill and expanding to a six-pan and then eight-pan size.
Sharing about how much I enjoy raclette meals on a blog comes easy to me, especially since I know there are still people out there in the world who have never had any experience with it if they have even heard of it at all.
My Background & Location
I grew up in the greater Louisville area of Kentucky. I have also lived in Huntington, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California and now South Central Kentucky with my husband, a former Hollywood Lighting Programmer turned lighting tech consultant in a home we cherish with a lake view surrounded by adorable pets and woodland creatures. We enjoy country life, good food, friendships, and Christian values and fellowship.
I’ve been called a Jen of all trades (though master of none) due to my widely varied professional profile as a generalist.
I’ve worked in a variety of customer service, project management and operations roles throughout the years spanning many different industries: clothing & gift retail. ecommerce homegoods, commercial real estate, investment banking, legal services and IT services. But, people close to me most know me as a former hypnosis practitioner, archetypal coach, writer, and even a former matchmaker. I also enjoy the regular study of the KJV Bible and Christian theology.
Future Plans
Dare say I’m interested in starting a movement to introduce more people to raclette table grilling. I just think the world could use more of this interactive style of eating (especially in the U.S.) Am I crazy to thin this could happen? I mean, you’re here on my blog reading about a stranger who’s talking about this.
What about raclette has sparked your interest?
I can’t wait to hear how you were introduced to it, even if it’s not new to you!
Send me a message through the contact form, if you feel inspired to share your story.
Host Masterclass courses with valuable resources are in the works, with a special VIP reward perks for the raclette host die hards! Shoot me an email to be notified of when these launch and I’ll add your name to the mailing list when it’s active.
I’m also contemplating hosting some live Sizzle Melt Social raclette events near me in Kentucky. If I do, I’ll be sure to share all about that here, too.
Whatever brought you here, thanks for stopping by.
Wishing you all the best – with melted cheese on top!