It's a delicious cheese dish where the cheese is heated while in the "wheel" then scraped onto the diner's plate. It's usually a typical Swiss cheese although there is something called "Raclette du Valais" that is specifically marketed for this dish. Curiously, I first had this dish in the early 1970s while skiing in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps.
In Switzerland, raclette is typically served with potatoes, cornichons, pickled onions, black tea, other warm beverages, or Fendant wine. A popular French option is to serve it with white wine, such as Savoy wine, but Riesling and pinot gris are also common. Traditionally, it is consumed with black tea, since a warm beverage supposedly improves digestion.
More:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette
There used to be a restaurant in NYC across Broadway from Lincoln Center called The Monk's Inn and they served all kinds of cheese dishes including raclette, fondues and more. The atmosphere was designed to feel like you were in a monastery in the Alps with fireplaces and candlelight. Alas, it closed years ago. I also had it at a restaurant near New York's Bear Mountain.
Good stuff!
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