Butcher Blocks

Butcher Blocks Combine Beauty & Strength to Add Elegance and Functionality to Kitchens

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The Butchers Block Was Conceived by Blacksmiths in the Nineteenth Century

When blacksmiths first conceived of mounting hardwood boards on wooden legs, they marveled at how well the tables absorbed the impact of hammer against anvil. Recognizing that butchers too had need for sturdy tables on which to chop meat, sawmillers and smithies answered the demand, and the butcherblock was born. It didn't take long for them to migrate from corner markets to supermarkets and from restaurants and delis into America’s kitchens.

Nothing beats a wood butcher block for cutting, mixing, stirring, blending, pounding or rolling

Homemakers and self-proclaimed gourmets value having a solid, smooth surface for food preparation. The beautiful appearance of blocks makes them equally great for presenting and serving food - everything from appetizers to desserts, including main courses like roasts, turkeys or hams for carving.

If you're looking for a free-standing butcher block primarily for food preparation, choose end grain.

If you expect to do lots of cutting on it, then you would be best advised to go with an end-grain butcher block with a food-safe natural oil finish. Its surface is essentially the cut ends of short pieces of wood. The wood fibers of these cut ends are less susceptible to nicks from knives or gouges from sharp corners. If, on the other hand, you're more interested in butcher blocks because they have the look of fine furniture and require minimal maintenance, then you should consider a semi-gloss varnish finish.