In my grandmother’s kitchen, to the right of the sink, laid a wide glass cutting board with images showing through of onions and carrots and measurement equivalents or everyday recipes (I can’t remember which). This board with its level, rubber-coated feet and easily sanitized glass surface, by all appearances makes a perfect work surface. Later, Mom inherited it and although it never left my grandmother’s countertop, it spent very little time on my mother’s. It probably wouldn’t have made an appearance at all had it not been for the sentimental value. The thing was anything but attractive (in my humble opinion. Sorry Nanny) and it made the worst possible noise as it dulled knives with a speed and efficiency that would shock you.
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When glass got its 15-Minutes it replaced wood, the long-standing cutting board champion, for its ability to get disinfected after contact with raw meat. What really just knocks the socks off of me is that this thing…
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& this round one…
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… are commonly known in the food and antiques industries as butcher’s blocks.
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Did you catch that?
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BUTCHER‘s block.
These immense blocks of hardwood were called “Sanitary Meat Blocks” in the 1880′s when they were used by butchers, and are still considered safe to use for food preparation. Even for meat. Even in restaurants!
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Now, I’m not saying that second example in its current state would I be comfortable exposing to raw meat, but it was and, with a little TLC, could be again. Or you could buy something that isn’t a stand alone behemoth. Perhaps something more along the lines of the countertop cutting board style that made the glass version so popular…
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John Boos is the company that makes this cutting board and, speaking from experience, it is wonderful to work on! Completely. Amazing. This photo is taken in our showroom, and I am really, reallyreally paranoid about damaging/staining/ruining those marble countertops so everything that one would traditionally use a countertop for (including boring ol’ landing space for condiment jars) I use the cutting board. The lip catches at the front and prevents the board from slipping, there is generous surface space, and – see that kind of backsplash thing on the back end? It stops food & utensils from sliding off & it acts as another lip – its reversible!!
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** I couldn’t leave out this 13 foot long bad boy from Boos. It is the longest block manufactured in the company’s 124 year long existence. I’d love to know where it landed.
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In case you are doubting me, all of these professionals/celebrity chefs think Boos Block butcher blocks and cutting boards are the only thing worth cutting on… or something to that effect. Boos was and remains to be the industry standard. Check out JohnBoos.com’s About page for a full history and current events.
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Home chefs all over the U.S. use Boos Blocks for their own masterpieces. The guy below is making beef bourguignon, for heaven’s sake! ANYTHING from Boos would make a wonderful first-home or wedding gift. (I’m not in the market for either, yet, but – hint, hint!!)
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And if you already own a home and are renovating your kitchen, installing Boos’ butcher block countertops would not be an ugly choice.
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Boos cutting boards make no-brainer cheese boards, too. Take Rubiner’s Cheesemongers & Grocers from Great Barrington, MA, as an example. They have about half a dozen Boos Block cutting boards throughout their store. Half are behind the counter to cut wedges for customers, and the other half are out on the floor being used for display or (my favorite part) samples. I was there about a year ago and noticed this personally but completely forgot to take photos. Oops.
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To recap some main ideas here:
~ with proper preparation and minimal maintenance (and even less clean-up), wood cutting boards & blocks can be used for meat preparation,
~ they are SO much easier on knives and they make cutting less hazardous,
~ besides being gorgeous in Rock Maple, Boos also offers Cherry and Walnut woods with logical features like juice grooves & reservoirs, side handles, and herb choppers,
~ did I forget to mention that all of John Boos’ products are made from American hardwoods in Effingham, Illinois, and have since 1887? Well, they are.
Made in America 
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Check out JohnBoos.com for more products & product information. You can also stop in to see us at Kent Kitchen Works. We would be happy to tell you how much we love them, answer any questions, and to see the ones we have available.
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Do you have a Boos Block? Do you love it? Tell me all about it!
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