I love wooden platters. I think it is the combination of the visual aesthetics, the grains, the wood colourings, the shape of the platter. They make me want to pick it up and hold it.

I also find them incredibly useful, especially in summer with outside eating, but all year. I can put such a wide variety of different foods or dishes on them. Because of the visual aesthetics, they can make the food really stand out on the table.

Then they are really simple to wipe off and clean. With a light oiling from time to time, the wooden platter maintain the richness and texture of the wood.

How do I use wooden platters?

As a Charcuterie board, with cheeses, crackers, cured meats, fruits and nuts. I usually serve these in the warmer summer months but not a hard and fast rule.

As a Cheese Board, there are so many amazing cheeses now here in New Zealand, with some crackers or breads to serve with the cheeses. Again, the wooden grains make the cheeses really stand out.

As a Serving Tray. I can serve appetizers and snacks, even desserts from the wooden platter.

I live in one of the main fruit and vegetable growing areas in NZ so at most times of the year, but late summer especially there are lots of fresh fruit and vegetables around. So using the wooden platter is a great way to serve these.

As a Fruit Platter. Especially fresh fruits, berries, melon, grapes, but also for dried fruits like dates and also nuts.

As a Vegetable Platter. I like to display a variety of fresh raw vegetables like carrots, celery, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers on a wooden platter with a dipping sauce or hummus in the center.

There are some of the  ways I use my wooden platter. But there are many more