Italian Olivewood Box Cheese Grater

DESCRIPTION A stainless grater plate that rests across an open Umbrian olivewood box, so the cheese falls into the box instead of onto the counter. Grate at the table, lift the plate out, serve from the box. This is the form Italian households have used for grating Parmigiano and Pecorino for generations — practical rather than decorative, though olivewood makes it both. The grating plate is stainless steel with a wire handle and lifts free for washing. The box is cut and joined from Umbrian olivewood, with the dark irregular grain that makes every one different. It sits well on a table already set with hand-painted Deruta, and it's substantial enough to leave out. Arrives in a cotton bag, ready to give. The small imperfections such as the difference in color, shape, diameter or small bubbles that form inside, do not constitute a defect but testify that it is actually an artisanal product. Specifications Dimensions: 10" long including handle x 4" wide · Box depth 2.5" Material: Umbrian olivewood with stainless steel grating plate Made in: Umbria, Italy Workshop: Family woodturning workshop in Umbria Pattern: Natural grain — each piece unique Heritage: Umbrian olivewood — the same region as Deruta Care: Hand-wash only · Dry immediately · Not dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe · Oil occasionally with food-grade mineral oil Sold as: Individual, in a cotton bag Mixes with: All Deruta majolica patterns, Tomassini grinders, Busatti linens Questions buyers ask How does it work? The stainless plate sits across the top of the olivewood box. Grate across it and the cheese collects in the box below. Lift the plate out and the box becomes the serving dish. Does the grater come out for washing? Yes. The plate lifts free of the box entirely, so you can wash the steel without soaking the wood. How do I care for olivewood? Hand-wash only, in warm water with mild soap, and dry immediately — never leave the wood soaking or sitting wet. Keep it out of the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. When the surface starts to look dry or chalky, rub in a little food-grade mineral oil and let it absorb overnight. What cheeses is it for? Hard aging cheeses — Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano. Soft cheeses will clog the plate. How much does the box hold? The box is 2.5" deep — enough grated cheese for a table of four to six. Grate ahead and bring it out with the pasta. How do I clean cheese out of the grater plate? Use a dry brush before washing. Dried cheese comes off far more easily than wet. Does it come ready to give? Yes. It ships in a cotton bag — no additional wrapping needed. Where in Italy does the wood come from? Umbria, the same central Italian region as Deruta, where Biordi's hand-painted majolica is made. Umbria is one of Italy's principal olive-growing areas, and the wood comes from trees retired after decades of fruiting. Is this a good Italian wedding gift? Yes. It's the kind of piece a couple uses weekly for decades, and it pairs naturally with a Deruta pasta bowl or serving platter. Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift? Very much so — it's useful, it's Italian, it arrives gift-ready in its cotton bag, and it goes straight onto the table rather than into a cupboard. Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers? Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and tableware since 1946. We're a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), the City declared May 1 "Biordi Art Imports Day" in 2021, and we were voted Best Overall Retailer in the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay reader's poll five years running. Everything we sell is sourced directly from Italian workshops we know by name. Can this be customized or personalized? Not this piece. Customization and personalization are available on select hand-painted ceramics — Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, and Geribi accept special orders. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com. Artisan Story Umbrian olivewood — Umbria is olive country. The same hills that produce the region's oil produce the wood, because olive trees are only cut once they stop bearing fruit, often after fifty years or more. The wood that comes out of them is hard, tight-grained, and darkly figured, and Umbrian woodturners have shaped it into kitchen and table pieces for centuries. Umbria — Umbria is also home to Deruta, the hill town that has produced Biordi's hand-painted majolica since 1946. Wood and majolica from the same region sit naturally on the same table.