Fluid Physics Tackles Fondue

During the cold of winter, the Swiss will often prepare a warm pot of fondue for supper. The famous melted cheese dish is traditionally made with grated cheese, white wine, a thickener like corn or potato starch and seasonings like garlic, pepper and nutmeg.The ingredients are simple, but woe to the home chef who gets the proportions wrong (or forgets one component entirely). They may be left with a pot of cheese that is too liquidy, too gummy, or--worst of all--separates into oil, water, and ch...