30 DAYS OPEN PURCHASEMost cutting boards have an annoying habit of wandering. You're chopping parsley, and suddenly the board has slid three centimetres to the left and taken half the pile with it. This one stays put. Underneath are four non-slip feet that hold it in place on the worktop and also lift it slightly so air can circulate underneath. That means the board dries evenly on both sides and doesn't sit in a puddle of washing-up water, which is what usually makes wooden boards warp.
The board is made of light beech, a dense, hard-wearing wood that is kind to knife edges and a classic choice for cutting boards and pastry boards. The edges are softly rounded, so it's comfortable to lift and carry, and Marcato's logo is discreetly engraved in the surface. It's handsome enough to go straight from the worktop to the table with cheese, charcuterie or a freshly baked focaccia, and sturdy enough to take everyday chopping and slicing.
It comes in two sizes. The smaller, 30 x 22 cm, is just right for herbs, garlic and onions, for slicing a lemon or setting out a couple of cheeses. The larger, 37 x 27 cm, has room for bigger jobs, like carving a roast, chopping vegetables for a stew or cutting freshly rolled pasta into ribbons.
Wash the board by hand in warm water, let it dry standing on its edge and oil it with a little cooking oil or wood oil now and then, and it will last a long time. If you wash and dry it any other way it will warp and break, just like any wooden cutting board. The board comes from Marcato in Campodarsego near Padua, which has been making pasta machines and kitchen tools since 1930.
Beech cutting board with non-slip feet. Available in 30 x 22 cm and 37 x 27 cm, approx. 2.5 cm thick. Wash by hand, not dishwasher safe. Made in Italy.
