Branded cheese boards come mostly in bamboo and acacia wood, with slate, marble and stainless steel filling out the sets. Bamboo boards run from simple round and rectangular shapes with cutout handles to a house-shaped board holding a ceramic bowl. Acacia brings a heavier, rustic feel, with rope handles, leather hanging straps and grain that differs on every board. Slate shows up as a full serving board with bamboo-handled tools or as an insert in a bamboo frame, while one wood style holds a removable marble slab. Plenty of sets pair the board with storage, from magnetic knife strips to slide-out cutlery compartments and a timber box whose lid becomes a cutting board. Separate knife sets cover planes, spreaders and spade knives for hard to soft cheese.
A not-for-profit wants to thank the volunteers who ran its winter fundraiser, and the aim is giving them something that gets pulled out at home. A board and knife set does exactly that. Next time one of them has friends over for a glass of wine, the cheese goes on the board, the knives come out of the box and the evening sorts itself out. More options sit in homeware.
Most of these boards can be engraved, which leaves a natural etch in acacia and bamboo. The folding wine table is engraved tone on tone, and a few custom cheese boards can be printed or finished with a sticker.
Good to Know
What's the difference between acacia and bamboo cheese boards? Acacia is a denser hardwood with a darker, rustic grain that varies from board to board. Bamboo is lighter in weight and colour, and several bamboo styles come with cutout handles, a ceramic bowl or a slate insert.
Which cheese knife is best for hard cheese? A spade knife is the one for hard cheese like parmesan or aged cheddar, because its short, wide blade breaks off chunks cleanly. Soft cheese is better handled with a spreader, and a plane knife shaves semi-firm to soft varieties.
Which branded cheese boards suit a winery or wine club? Acacia boards with rope handles bring a rustic feel that sits well on a tasting room counter, and the folding wine table rounds out an outdoor tasting. Sets with magnetic knife strips keep spade knives, planes and spreaders together for hard to soft cheese.
Can the slate and marble inserts be removed? Yes, the white marble insert lifts out of its wood frame and the slate sheet sits loose in its bamboo board. That makes washing each surface easier and lets the stone be used on its own as a serving plate.
