Grole

A "Grole" (pronounced "Groll") is a multi-spouted, and often ornately carved, wooden bowl with a small lid. Groles are always round and relatively shallow, with an interior capacity for liquid proportionate to the number of spouts.

Traditionally, a grole is used to serve a hot drink (sometimes called "cafe L'amite"), comprising a base of black coffee to which are added a variety of liquors. The liquors added depend on whatever is on offer from the bar, cafe or restaurant serving it. Sometimes several choices of liquor-combinations are available, sometimes only the "house speciality". What comes to the table is, however, invariably hot, delicious and, alcoholically speaking, deceptively strong.

This typically potent concoction is usually shared between 2 and 10 (or so) people, with the number of spouts on the particular grole matching the number of inbibers. Each person has his or her "own" spout from which to drink, with each taking a mouthful before passing the bowl to the person next to them. This passing-on ends with the person who gets to take the last mouthful(a person who also takes much teasing from the the other participants, especially the first person who did not get another "shot").

The bowl is local to the Savoy region of France and is usually available and enjoyed during "apres ski" or after dinner - especially one of fondue or raclette. It is generally recommended that those who partake in this ceremony not attempt to ski afterwards.

It is difficult to obtain the multi-spouted carved wooden bowl elsewhere than in Savoy. This is unfortunate, as these individually made carved bowls are an integral part of the authentic "Grole experience". When next in Savoy with one or more friends, it's definitely something to try.