Patri, author of Sabores y Momentos , has recently had the olive wood cutting board from Bérard . When he bought it, I told him that he would notice the difference of working with that board, because that wood has nothing to do with others. His touch is much softer, and his appearance falls in love. But that wood has many other advantages that it has already discovered, and that I recommend you not to miss.

Today I bring you an interesting article about wooden boards to work in the kitchen with our ingredients. But not on any board, but on olive wood. Among the characteristics of Olive wood, we find that it is one of the hardest and most compact species. And a piece of information that seemed curious to me and that I was unaware of is that, once the trunk is exhausted or sick, it emits new shoots that allow it to survive; For this reason, in ancient times it was considered an immortal tree, didn't you know???

Olive wood is considered one of the most beautiful, dense and resistant. Of a greenish ocher color with irregular brown veins that form very characteristic drawings, it is very attractive due to its shapes, and its tonality varies over time. It has a silky touch that makes it very pleasant to work on, it is long-lasting, and it presents a certain plasticity. In addition, its drying is not excessively long, so it is used to make even ax and hoe handles. The elaboration of olive materials is very limited due to the difficulty of handling it due to the various factors mentioned above, such as its hardness, grain, drying... That is why the production of olive wood pieces continues to be carried out in a very traditional way. . Although it is true that more and more olive wood kitchen boards and other utensils are seen in markets, fairs and shops, the presence of these artisan products, made by hand by families that continue the tradition generation after generation.

As is the case with the French firm Bérard , which has been manufacturing wooden utensils in Saint-Laurent-en-Royans since 1892, between the French Alps and the Côte d'Azur. Its manufacturing process is respectful of forests and the environment. Each piece is made by hand, making the most of the available wood. No two pieces are the same. In addition, everything with a sustainable process in which the excess material is used to heat both the drying chamber and the facilities themselves, so there is no waste of wood.

The elaboration of a handmade piece of olive wood is not a job to be done lightly. It requires a very thorough preparation of the wood before the craftsman can start working on it. Among these tasks we can highlight: felling, which is carried out at the end of the olive campaign and consists of cutting the unproductive or annoying branches from the olive tree for the olive harvest. The selection of the most suitable branches by size. And drying, which consists of burying and digging up the selected branches for the different pieces and which can take up to a year. Once the wood is well dried, we proceed to make wooden utensils that are respectful with the environment. In this way we can find spoons, mortars, boards, olive wood plates as the most common craft objects made with olive trees.

And now I will tell you why I am convinced that this wood is the most suitable for making kitchen utensils! The olive tree is ideal for use in the kitchen as it has antibacterial properties and its wood is one of the most resistant to stains, fungi and odors. In addition, thanks to its low porosity, it does not absorb liquids or flavors, making it perfect for cutting fresh products. Also, we must not forget the pleasure of cooking or eating with olive wood cutlery, they are ideal for cooking with love!

Another of its virtues is that olive wood does not require special care, it is only advisable to apply a thin layer of oil from time to time so that it maintains its color. For daily maintenance, simply hand wash after use and dry upright to dry any excess water.

After all this that I have told you, I have it clear: to work in the kitchen, always on an olive wood table! Here are links to some of my latest recipes where you can see that the Bérard cutting board is my faithful companion!

- Cod, Onion and Leek Quiche {with homemade shortcrust pastry}

- Chocolate cake with coffee and Brandy de Jerez

- Grilled chicken and cheese sandwich {recipe for easy dinner}

- Cauliflower and broccoli gratin with ham

Claudia Ferrer
Tags: Bérard

Comments

Roberto said:

Me parece precioso y espectacular.
Quisiera probar a hacer una de estas tablas por mi cuenta.¿podríais decirme por favor, como tratar la madera , antes de trabajarla?.

Estoy sin trabajo , y me gustaría aprender por mi cuenta, aunque me cueste mucho empeño y sacrificio, para que me salgan medio bien.
Muchas gracias y saludos .

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