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If you*ve been to a stylish wedding reception this year, you*ve probably seen everyone excitedly crowded around one table dipping strawberries into a chocolate fondue fountain.

These fountains have become extremely popular. And for good reason! It's not every day you see a bubbling fountain of pure sweet chocolate, just waiting for you dip all manner of goodies into it. What kind of goodies you ask? How about cool strawberries, bananas, cookies, small chunks of cake, and cookies. And that's just getting started. If you think something would taste good dipped in chocolate, you*re probably right.

Chocolate fondue fountains also smell wonderful. Your guests will be following their noses from the moment they get out of their cars until they find the table that you have set up for the fountain.

Another reason why chocolate fondue fountains are such a great party item is because they create a place for everyone to gather around. Kind of like a water cooler. If it was a water cooler of delicious melted chocolate, that is.

So we know that fondue fountains are a great choice for a large, fancy party. But they are actually a great choice for a kids party*or almost any party for that matter.

Less expensive fountains are available for around fifty dollars online or in some department stores. The very large, fancy fountains are more expensive (usually over a hundred dollars), but you might be able to rent one from a local caterer for a reasonable fee.

If you are buying a fountain, make sure it is sturdy, preferably with a stainless steel base. High quality fountains are usually quiet. Low quality fountains may make so much noise that it can even be irritating to stand next to them.

The fountains come with instructions for use. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully to ensure that everything works smoothly.

One instruction that you might not want to follow is mixing vegetable oil with the chocolate. This is to thin the chocolate out (which is very necessary), however, there is a better way to do that. And that would be Paramount Crystals. These are what the professionals use for thinning out chocolate. They are easier to get right than an oil mixture and will not affect the taste of the chocolate. Use an 8 oz bag for every 3 lbs of chocolate and you will be all set. You can buy paramount crystals at most stores that sell baking goods.

A quick warning: chocolate fondue fountains don*t do well outside*especially if it is windy. In fact, you may wind up with your guests being showered with chocolate if your not careful.

If this is an adult party, you can flavor the chocolate with some sort of flavored liquor. For example, Grand Marnier will give the chocolate a slightly orange flavor.

Everyone wants to throw a memorable party and chocolate fondue fountain is one of the best ways to make sure that your guests talk about your party for a long time.