Spent some time on Yahoo Answers last week reading some of the questions and answers about chocolate fountains.
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I found several questions worth addressing here and would like to offer some feedback and insight on a couple of subjects.
A mini fountain on every guest's table.
I spent some years as a decorator and event planner back in the eighties so my inclination is to favor innovative and different ideas. One of the brides to be had proposed having a mini (home use) chocolate fountain on each guest table at her reception. The idea sounded like a lot of fun at first glance. It didn't take long to realize why it would probably be a bad idea for a number of reasons.
From a party planning and catering standpoint my first thought would be the nightmare of keeping all of those fountains filled. I can imagine a scene for the caterer that would be something like a plate spinner or juggler in the circus. Considering most of the small fountains suitable for a centerpiece hold a very small amount of chocolate, I could see a caterer spending most of their service time replenishing all of those little fountains.
Then comes the matter of keeping them all running. As I have mentioned before, that class of chocolate fountain is a toy, not meant for continuous use over hours. Because of their cheap construction, they also tend to be noisy. Not the kind of thing you want in the middle of a guest table grinding away while your guests try to converse.
Finally, as an event planner would note, having a lot of little fountains verses a large centerpiece chocolate fountain removes the social interaction of your guests.
Putting a little fountain at every table encourages your guests to stay at their table and not mingle. One of the most compelling aspects of a commercial chocolate fountain is its ability to draw guests and cause interaction.
The aroma, movement and luxurious display of melted flowing chocolate brings people together. The fountain acts as a focal point for activity and interaction between your guests. Always a positive in a large event.
If you have any comments or thoughts on this subject, please share them.
