Three Boards, Three Places, One Reason I Made Them
There are certain pieces in your home that quietly become part of the routine.
You may not use them every day. But when people come over, you reach for them automatically.
Wine nights. Girls nights. Holidays. The random “come over for a bit” afternoons that somehow turn into staying for hours.
I’ve always loved entertaining, and over the years I realized I was constantly searching for serving pieces that felt elevated without feeling untouchable.
I wanted something substantial.
Something beautiful enough to leave sitting on the counter.
Something that felt collected.
So I started making them.
Not sourcing them.
Actually making them.
And somewhere between cutting marble, beveling porcelain, adding cork backing, and testing dozens of pieces, they became more than serving boards.
They became places.
Three Boards. Three Places.
The names came from where the materials themselves originated.
Not places picked from a map.
The actual inspiration came from the stone and porcelain I was working with.
Aleutian
Crafted from natural marble from the Aleutian Islands. The soft movement and natural veining feel organic and timeless. No two are exactly alike, which feels fitting considering nature designed this one first.
Cortina
Crafted from Italian porcelain inspired by Cortina d’Ampezzo in Northern Italy. Cool gray tones and subtle movement give it a refined, understated elegance that somehow works with everything.
Verona
Crafted from Italian porcelain inspired by the City of Verona, Italy. The pale green tones and warm movement shift with the light and feel a little softer, a little unexpected, and very much like summer hosting.
One thing I didn’t expect when I started making these is that the collection itself would evolve.
Stone and porcelain seem to have personalities of their own.
Sometimes a material I love becomes impossible to find again. Other times I come across a slab or porcelain and immediately start imagining what it could become.
Because these are handcrafted in small batches, the collection will naturally shift over time.
Some boards may stay around for years. Others may quietly step aside and make room for something new.
And honestly, I’ve grown to love that part.
It makes each piece feel a little more collected. A little more personal.
Not something endlessly reproduced, but something discovered.
I wanted all three to feel different because gatherings feel different too.
Some nights are wine and cheese on the patio.
Some are pool afternoons.
Some are holidays where people stand around the kitchen island for hours.
But the goal stayed the same:
Create pieces beautiful enough to become part of someone’s hosting routine.
The beveled edges, cork backing, and handcrafted details were intentional. I wanted them to feel substantial and functional, but also like pieces you’d continue reaching for years later.
Because honestly, people may not remember exactly what cheese you served.
But they remember how gathering felt.
And sometimes the things around the table become part of the memory too.
And weirdly, that’s exactly what I hoped for.
And if you’re new here, Boards, Bites & a Bit About Me shares a little more about how That Grazing Table began.
These were never meant to become pieces that sit hidden in a cabinet.
They were designed for wine nights, last-minute gatherings, holidays, and all the in-between moments that happen around food.
If one feels like it belongs in your home too, you can explore the collection here:
→ Shop the handcrafted board collection
And if you enjoy easy recipes, entertaining ideas, and a peek behind the scenes of what I’m building, subscribe below. You’re always welcome here.
– Andrea
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a serving board good for entertaining?
The best serving boards are durable, easy to style, large enough for gathering foods naturally, and beautiful enough to leave out between gatherings. Whether it’s marble, porcelain, or wood, the pieces you reach for most often tend to become part of your hosting routine.
What material is best for a charcuterie board?
Different materials do different things well. Wood brings warmth and a classic feel, marble naturally stays cooler for cheeses, and porcelain offers durability with a refined look. I designed this collection around marble and porcelain because I wanted pieces that felt substantial, elevated, and beautiful enough to leave out between gatherings.
What size board works best for hosting?
The right size depends on how you entertain. Smaller boards around 6x8 inches work well for butter boards, desserts, or appetizers for one to two people. Medium boards around 8x14 inches are one of the most versatile sizes because they work beautifully for charcuterie, desserts, and everyday hosting. Larger boards are ideal for bigger gatherings and grazing-style spreads.
My handcrafted collection typically ranges from approximately 7.5–8 x 13.5–14 inches. Since each marble and porcelain piece is individually cut and finished by hand, slight variations happen naturally and make every board feel a little unique.
I designed them in this range because they’re large enough to style beautifully for 2–6 people, depending on whether you’re creating an appetizer board, dessert board, brunch spread, or part of a larger gathering setup, while still feeling practical enough for everyday hosting.