My new cutting board

[Inkanyezi]

A few days ago, I acquired a new cutting board in a Red Cross second hand store. Of course it was not actually new, and it carried a scent of tobacco smoke, which I didn't like at all. What caught my attention was the grain of the wood, which I found attractive. The board is of olive wood, a very dense wood.

So after taking it home, I sat a couple of hours on the balcony, scraping off the surface that smelled of smoke. The scraping revealed even more of that beautiful grain, and after scraping most of the visible surface, only leaving the hole that serves as handle, I oiled the board - with olive oil.

Sorry to say, my wife doesn't like the board at all, but I love the beautiful grain of the wood. She for some reason dislikes wooden cutting boards, and particularly those that have been used before. I, on the other hand, love the natural grain of wood, almost any kind of wood, although some particular types, as cherry and other fruit trees, as well as some hardwoods, as olive, have a special place in my heart.

[csa mt]

The grain does look beautiful; but the loaf of bread is blocking a good part of it.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Urban I like that cutting board, I think you should try different shots with different angles and may be with some bread or vegetables on it. I would suggest you should put it onto a different surface to make it stand out more because the texture and colour of the table is similar to the cutting board.

[John 2]

................ I, on the other hand, love the natural grain of wood, almost any kind of wood, although some particular types, as cherry and other fruit trees, as well as some hardwoods, as olive, have a special place in my heart.

Me too and there is nothing wrong with re-cycling. The bread's nice as well.

[Stagecoach]

A lovely bit of timber Urban but perhaps a contrasting background will help.

[Kaye Leggett]

Hi Urban I like that cutting board, I think you should try different shots with different angles and may be with some bread or vegetables on it. I would suggest you should put it onto a different surface to make it stand out more because the texture and colour of the table is similar to the cutting board.

I agree

[DanK]

Hi Urban I like that cutting board, I think you should try different shots with different angles and may be with some bread or vegetables on it. I would suggest you should put it onto a different surface to make it stand out more because the texture and colour of the table is similar to the cutting board.

I agree. And I would frame it so that you don't have things like the chair, toaster, and towels showing.

[NorthernFocus]

That is a lovely piece of wood. I'll put forth a different opinion than most in that I like the "homey" feel of the image as-is.

There is science behind the prejudice against wooden cutting boards. They are more prone to retain and promote growth of bacteria and mold. Not such a big deal if it is used primarily for cutting bread. More of a potential problem if used for meat and poultry.

By the way, good on you that you can receive some enjoyment out of something as simple as finding and restoring an old chunk of wood

[Inkanyezi]

Thanks for feedback. This was a fairly quick shot I made only to demonstrate different approaches to depth of field when shooting the tabletop. The paraphernalia around the table is what's always there, as it is my not too large kitchen, where we have all meals at home.

Regarding what to use wooden boards for, I use wood exclusively for bread. For cutting veggies I have a green polyethylene board and for meat a red one, also polyethylene. I always wash them up after use, and I don't mix meat and vegetables on the same board.

I am sure that I might later find a reason to shoot the board just to show it in a good way, although lately I have not taken many photos at all. Just wanted to show the board, with which I am very happy. It is an unusual chunk of wood. Those trees grow very old. Friends have told me that olive trees can be many hundred years. Only old trees have burls like that.

And yes, I love natural materials, and particularly those that age with dignity. I couldn't say I actually needed this board, it's just that I kind of fell in love with it at first glance. I think it is a good match to the bread and to the table as well. Scraping and oiling it did give enjoyment. That I cannot deny. I think it will be well used.

[Loose Canon]

Are you kidding me Urban!!!

I would love to have a chunk of lumber that gorgeous! I looked at some the other day (different wood species) that were awesome. And expensive to buy retail.

Not only is this beautiful in itself but would make an awesome shooting surface for, well, just about anything.

I would have a ball with different compositions featuring the board!

[IzzieK]

For anything smelly and stain-y on my cutting boards, I immediately pour chlorox in it for a minute then rinse with vinegar and water...the only thing I cannot chlorox wash are my dogs...

Seriously, I love wood very much. I barely use mine because I am careful about putting too much knife marks on it so I use it to catch pizza from the oven instead. Your link to World Market of olivewood is very nice but they are out-of-stock at the moment...Yours is almost the same as that. Beautiful wood...and I also have the same tablemat as yours I use to use occasionally.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[NorthernFocus]

...And yes, I love natural materials, and particularly those that age with dignity. I couldn't say I actually needed this board, it's just that I kind of fell in love with it at first glance. I think it is a good match to the bread and to the table as well. Scraping and oiling it did give enjoyment. That I cannot deny. I think it will be well used.

If we all only did what we needed to get by in life it would be a grey world indeed. I agree that the wood looks like it was absolutely created to have a loaf of bread laid upon it.

...the only thing I cannot chlorox wash are my dogs...

Izzie, we have something in common. I learned in my days commercial fishing that there are few things that can't be sanitized with clorox. Including the human body. I've taken more than one sponge bath in clorox for reasons on which I won't expound