Gathering Block II Kitchen Island

The Gathering Block II Kitchen Island offers classic style for your traditional kitchen. Part of the American Heritage Collection, this elegant food preparation station measures 36 inches by 24 inches and stands 36 inches tall. It boasts a distressed body finish in a variety of different color options and is crafted from solid Northern hard rock maple hardwood. The rugged 4-inch thick, end-grain work surface is designed to be easy on your knives; it also resists nicks and gouges, and prevents bacteria from entering the wood. The butcher block top boasts a Varnique finish that shows off the rich texture of the wood grain. Other features include solid 4-inch square legs with inset panels, two wicker baskets that slide out for quick access to utensils, ingredients, or cookbooks, and a slatted lower shelf for additional storage. This island will make a welcome addition to your kitchen.

The top of this island is made for chopping and cutting. Recent studies indicate that wood is safer for food preparation than plastic or glass cutting boards; bacteria like salmonella disappear quickly on wood, but tend to live and thrive on plastic. You should always clean your wooden cutting board surface with hot soapy water, taking care to remove any food particles and dry the board immediately.

To maintain the beautiful finish of your butcher block top, always wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth and use a mild detergent. You should never soak the wood or let water stand for long periods of time, as it disrupts the moisture content and causes the rails to split. Rinse well and towel-dry before applying new oil. We recommend John Boos Mystery Oil, although drug store mineral oil can also be effective in sealing wood. Oil will enhance the color of the wood and offer short-term protection. It is extremely important to give the wood a good oiling on all surfaces every three to four weeks, imbuing your cart or island with a rich, golden glow. When it becomes dry and lighter in color, it is time to re-oil.

About John Boos Products
Located in Effingham, Ill., John Boos has become world-renowned for their high-quality kitchen products. Not only is John Boos proud to be featured by numerous celebrity chefs on Food Network programs and others, but they also keep an eye on their environmental footprint. Protecting the environment is an integral part of John Boos' business practice. They're firmly committed to using sustainable resources, recycling byproducts, and maintaining healthy air quality as they manufacture their products. John Boos has been awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence in Foodservice Equipment by the Chefs of America, a prestigious acknowledgement of their commitment to quality.

All butcher block products must be oiled on all surfaces with a natural mineral oil at least once a month to protect the wood.

With a minimum amount of care and maintenance on your butcher block, you can lengthen the life of the top from 5 to 10 years.

DO NOT:

• Wash knives and forks or other utensils on the work surface of your top
• Wash your top with harsh detergents of any type
• Cut off ends, drill holes, make cutouts or otherwise deface tops...without refinishing exposed unfinished wood. Gurantee is void if tops are modified.

DO:

• Periodically (once every several weeks), depending upon use and household conditions, apply a heavy coat of mineral oil to the work surface of your top

You can help preserve your butcher block by keeping your home humidified in the winter and by refreshing your butcher block often with oil.

• First scrape loose with a steel scraper or spatula any heavy food particles or foreign matter that may have adhered to the surfaces.
• Brush or scrape all loose particles from the surfaces.
• Take a dish cloth and dip in warm soapy water, of a very mild detergent, and wahs the top the same as any other wood surface.
• Wash out dishcloth in clear warm water, wring out, and go over surface again.
• TAKE DRY CLOTH AND GO OVER ALL SURFACES TO DRY THOROUGHLY.
• An occasional application of mineral oil is recommended.

If any method, other than the one outlined above, is used in cleaning, very serious damage may result.