Ask Mrs M. She’ll tell you that I need a lot of help.
It’s just me in the shop, of course … me and my CNC (computer numerically controlled router). I call it my assistant, and I get it to work by pushing a button (well, a lot of buttons, actually). Then, it stays busy while I’m doing something else.
Oh, it needs supervision from time to time – mainly when I’ve made a mistake. Some of those mistakes are simple programming fixes … some make more firewood. A few mistakes break things (mainly router bits). Luckily, those mistakes are not that common, and the results of my “collaboration” with my assistant have proven to be rather popular.
Thankfully! I would hate to have all of those electrons getting lazy in the shop.
Serving pieces help turn an impressive array into a finished presentation.
I quickly learned that cutting boards are great … but many people need serving pieces to complete the process of getting great food to the table.
And, of course, if the food looks good when it’s served, that will help it taste fantastic as well.
We are a visual people. Food needs to look, smell, feel and, finally, taste good to maximize our eating experience. I may not be an expert … but I know good food when I have it!
Sometimes, a pair of serving pieces is required. In this case, it’s the flip side of a 5 Section Server, paired with the flip side of a Garlic Dipping Board.
A surfboard is the base for this presentation.
The first board I sold was a cheese board. It’s just a small cutting board, really … but it can be so much more when you have a presentation in mind!
There’s really no wrong answer here … my job is to provide a variety of options so your table can look wonderful. I’ve done some research into what makes a good presentation of cheese & crackers, or charcuterie, or whatever … the link is below. Enjoy!
I started making Garlic Dipping Boards just a few months ago, and they’re a hit. If you missed the story of the Boards and their Great Garlic Graters, then please follow the link to read about the launch of the GDBs.
Go ahead, I’ll wait.
The “A” side, if you will, is perfect for sliced bread, oil, garlic and your favorite spices for dipping.
However, there are times that you need a presentation board … without the Great Garlic Grater.
Got’cha covered. These Boards are made to flip … unlike most of the cutting boards I make, these are made to use on both sides.
The “B” side is perfect for charcuterie, bread, or an appetizer like Velda’s Bruschetta. And, yes, they were delicious. I love photo shoots.
24 new boards just made it to the finish line in time for this weekend’s event, and they’re shown below. I have paired each board with one of the Great Garlic Graters (12 Boards have square Graters, and 12 have hexagonal Graters). But, you get to choose the set that you like when you make your selections. Some people like a matching/complementary Grater, and some people prefer a more, uh, colorful statement in their pairing.
You’re an adult, you get to choose.
If you see one you like, don’t delay: 3 are already spoken for!
I love it more when people actually use them. They are made to be of use, after all.
Here’s a wide variety of cutting boards that I have ready for this weekend’s event. Every person that does what I do has heard it, “Oh, these are too pretty to use!”
No, they’re not. And even if they are … I can ugly them up for you, if you like.
We go, every year, to a party in Carpinteria … it’s the California Avocado Festival. It features the world’s largest vat of guacamole.
Vat. Guacamole.
But I digress.
Every year, our booth is opposite a shop that does surfboard rentals, and they display their quiver of boards in front of the shop.
That display has been working on me for 4 years.
I had been displaying my surfboard-shaped cutting boards … in a crate. This is one step up from a display where you just throw the boards out on a table & call it good.
I call that the vomit display. I hate those.
I knew I could do better, and I finally spent some time thinking about the surfboard display I’ve been staring at all of these years.
The California Avocado Festival is this weekend, and I’m excited to have a new display for my new surfboards. I’ve got 2 shapes in 3 sizes: in addition to the traditional (for me) flat bottomed board, I also now have fish-tail boards.
