Preheat the oven 180 C

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the slices fennel for 5 minutes

Drain, toss with salt and pepper and spread in a buttered gratin dish.

Pour cream, toast to coat, and then settle the fennel into an even layers

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes

Remove the foil, sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and slip under the broiler until the cheese is brown to a crips coating, about 3 minutes.

Let it cool and serve