Cheese surfing…

At parties you’ll always find me close to a well-designed and stocked cheese platter. Something about the way different strengths and textures of artisan cheeses can bring out the unique flavors in other foods, and in my family, cheese, crackers, nuts, fruits and breads with cocktails is an almost an every day prelude to the main meal. It’s ceremony…a great way to unwind the day. my sister served several elegant platters this past holiday on these amazing solid wood cheese boards that

CowBoy ike’S

CaBernet SauviGnon wine Jelly 28”

A little long board elegance were cut in the shape of surfboards; which, as it turns out, were designed and built by a local wood artisan, Joel Hoffman. hoffman, who is a licensed finish contractor serving local architects and builders, has been designing and fabricating custom furniture, cabinetry, and wood products in Santa Barbara since 2000. his most recent product addition of artisan surfboard cutting boards came about when his love for the classic designs of old long boards, met his passion for food and the culinary experience. hoffman began

mitiCa FiG w/ mixed nut Cake

roCkenwaGner

Bakery pretzel roll

hayStoCk mountain artiSan Goat CheeSe

Red Apple

orGaniC

BlaCk arkanSa S

Green apple orGaniC

Granny Smith

making cutting boards, cheese trays, and serving platters with surfboard-like “stringers” in the 90’s to help pay for college. The boards were very popular on a small scale and after college he continued making them for friends and family for the holidays. one day a local friend and surfboard shaper noticed the boards in hoffman’s shop and asked if he could make the boards in the literal shape of a surfboard. hundreds of boards and after hours sweat later, hoffman founded the Santa Barbara Cutting Board Company offering a

mitiCa

Salt & pepper almondS

lonG ClawSon CotSwold

douBle GlouCeSter

Cheddar line of high quality, hand-shaped cutting boards and cheese serving platters. By Aaron Wright (Photo by Bill Boyd)

Hoffman’s cheese and cutting boards are sold at Whole Foods Market in Santa Barbara. The above photo features a 28-inch “cheese surf board”, with cheeses, breads and spreads selected and sold at Whole Foods Market, 3761 State St, 805- 837-6959