Meant to be used!

When I sell my Ocean Boards at the markets and craft shows, many people react by saying "It’s too beautiful, I will display it, but not use it"! I always reply by saying "It is meant to be used"!! Serving food on your ocean board will leave some stains, some grease marks and maybe some cuts from the knife (do not cut on the resin!). The first ones will stand out like a sore thumb but the more you use it, the more character it will have and the more stories it will tell. There is nothing like a well loved, well seasoned wooden board! That, and wood can dry if not used. The food will add some natural oils into the wood of your Ocean Board.

To wash, just like any wooden board, do not immerse in water. Simply wash with a soapy cloth.

To protect it, it is important to keep your Ocean Board oiled. I make my own wood conditioner with mineral oil, beeswax and a bit of vitamin E. I like to add the beeswax because it adds another level of protection. I sell some of mine in small quantities as I always find the big bottles are too much for most people. Just like the oils you cook with, you don’t want to use old oils on your board. Butcher block oil is also available just about everywhere. Just look for a natural one and get in the habit of oiling your Ocean Board every few times you use it (I find that the bamboo ones do not need it as much). You will eventually get the feel for when it needs it, and when it doesn't.

Need more? You can find some of my favourite care instructions and conditioner recipe here.

So now that I have convinced you to use it, I want to convince you that you don’t need to make an Instagram level charcuterie board everytime! Your ocean board is perfect to lay your french baguette on spaghetti night, to display taco fillings, to serve breakfast or to bring some hummus, carrots and pitas by the pool. As beautiful as they are, I like them to be practical and functional.

Have I convinced you? If I did, send me some pictures of what you served on your board. I will add it to this page! Let’s share the million ways we can use our Ocean Board!