One of my favourite kitchen implements is a giant wooden cheese board and matching individual serving boards, made from a gorgeous slab of wood salvaged from a science lab in a school in Glasgow where my uncle taught technical drawing and woodwork.
I love the history that comes with these lovingly crafted works of art, and I can see how the new range of boards being produced from sustainable hardwood harvested from the Lisnavagh estate in Rathvilly, Co Carlow, will attract a similarly appreciative following. Bunbury Boards, called after the family that lives and works on the estate, are truly things of beauty, each with its own identity and history that you can read about by entering the serial number of each board into the company’s website. There are lots of different sizes, shapes and thickness of boards, place mats, coasters, sushi boards and serving platters in the range, and due to the range of woods used, none are identical, which adds to the appeal. The design features are excellent, and you can buy a food-safe Bunbury Board Oil to keep them in good condition. I spotted the hand-crafted range in the Kilkenny Shop in Dublin, and they are also available from kitchen shops and delis nationwide, and online. See the full list of stockists at www.bunburyboards.com, tel: 059-9161784. The boards cost from €25.