Large Cherry Chopping Block, 12"x15"x2" $170

Most end grain cutting boards are made from maple, but there's one very good reason not to make a large end grain board from maple. Maple has a rather large tangential to radial shrinkage ratio, a fancy way of saying it deforms as it expands and contracts with changes in ambient humidity, resulting in pressures that can cause the board to crack. Cherry, and walnut too, are more stable, and they also happen to look beautiful together. This board sits on integral legs, making for a very stable cutting surface, and easy placement of a platter to catch what you cut. The cherry squares have alternating grain in contiguous squares. The coved ends allow for a comfortable carry to the table. The end grain surface is slow to mark up, and will keep your fine cutlery sharp far longer than a regular face or edge grain wood board, or silica-laden bamboo.