Fruits

• Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pineapples, apples, grapes and kiwi are all fruits your guests can enjoy with a chocolate fountain. Keep fruits chilled until just before serving. Include a tall paper cup or other holder with skewer sticks next to your fruit plate. Don't use toothpicks, as they are too thin and may not hold the combined weight of fruits with chocolate.
  
  

Salty Snacks

• Pretzels are a favorite dipping item for the chocolate fountain. Use whole pretzels or thick pretzel sticks. Skip the thin short pretzel sticks, however, as they can be hard to handle after dipping. Ritz crackers or any other cracker with a wide surface area can also be included. Potato chips are not recommended as they are generally too thin and will become soggy and crumble.
  
  

Sweets

• Cookies, biscotti and marshmallows are confectionery delights that complement without overpowering the dipping chocolate. With these sweets, guests can enjoy their own creations. This saves you from having to prepare additional desserts.
  
  

Display Tips

• Your chocolate fountain should be the center of attraction of your food table. Place the fountain at least 6 inches back from the front edge of the table to eliminate the possibility of it falling off the table. If you are also serving hot food or are having a buffet style dinner, set up your fountain display at a separate table. Spread the plates of fruits, pretzels and sweets around the sides of the fountain. Place plates, forks and napkins at each end of the table so that they are accessible from either side.
  
  

Preparation and Serving Tips

• When preparing fruits, sprinkle a dusting of salt over fruit in a bowl and toss around to ensure every piece has touched the salt. This slows the oxidation process, which turns the fruit brown. Lemon juice also works well. After tossing the fruits, transfer them to a large serving plate and store in the refrigerator. You may also include a cup of skewers with the marshmallows for easier dipping; cookies and crackers have a large enough surface for guests to dip without getting chocolate on their hands.