This 14" acacia wood cheese and cracker board is really quite lovely. The board I received is smooth, has nicely rounded corners, and the star--while not a "Michaelangelo" among routed woodwork, is still very nicely done. Perhaps there is a slight router mark here and there if you really examine it with a microscopic eye, but I'm assuming that if one expects absolute woodworking perfection, it's going to come at a much higher price point than this board. It's good and solid and has a beautiful warm stain -- a pleasant surprise for me since every board I've ever owned always had a very light-colored finish to it. The color provides a really nice background complimentary color to the colors most cheese and crackers come in, if that matters to you.And of course the star design is suitable to so many occasions: Christmas, 4th of July, New Year, birthdays, etc. Or for no particular occasion at all. It's not like you're going to serve cheese and crackers on this star board when it's not a holiday and all your guests are going to gasp and ask why in the world you're serving them on a STAR-SHAPED BOARD?? Just sayin'. It looks great no matter what--just a very unique way to serve cheese and crackers. Now, it probably could be used to serve other things as well, but right now I'm having a hard time thinking of things that would fit in the shape of a star...? I'm already thinking Oreo double stuffs would sit nicely all in a star-shaped little row, but what could I put in the middle? A glass of milk with several straws in it? Not sure THAT would go over real well. Guess I'll have to go back to the drawing board on that one! Point is, with a little creativity this could be used in a variety of ways. It just needs a more creative mind than mine to think of them - ha.That said, it's really not for me. I don't do a lot of entertaining - mostly just family - and I'm lucky if I get crackers out of the BOX much less spread out on a decorative board before my grandkids have them half gone. So I don't really have much use for something this "fancy". But I think it would make a great housewarming or wedding gift for those just starting out, or a really nice hostess "thank you" gift. With the holidays right around the corner, this would make a great gift if you wrapped it with a box or two of specialty crackers and some cheeses, or maybe some homemade bread and jam? Who wouldn't like that? Mmmm!Not only is it well made, unique, and really pretty, but my understanding is that acacia wood is well known for its durability (won't scratch easily), water-resistant properties (won't warp easily), and is highly resistant to fungus. All really good properties to have in a kitchen/food type item.* review of star-patterned cheese-and-cracker board *This pretty serving board made of acacia wood gives you an attractive and useful way to set out cheese and crackers for a party or get-together. The star design fits in with most occasions, from Christmas and New Year's to Fourth of July and even graduation. It measures 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide by three-quarters of an inch thick.The plank from which the board is shaped is made from several lengths of acacia that have been glulamed together. This type of construction gives the board more strength than a single plank would provide, and the varying grains of the different pieces add visual interest. Acacia is a highly colorful wood, with warm hues ranging from light to midrange, with occasional darker accents.Construction of the board is solid, and the routed pattern, where you rest your crackers, is about 1/4 inch deep. Edges there and on the outside of the board are all smoothly finished, with a very slight rounded bevel. The wood itself has been sanded to a smooth finish and oiled/sealed. The care instructions call for washing and drying with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, and polishing the board occasionally with beeswax.If you order this board, you will want to check the star channel for router marks, in case they bother you. At first, I thought the star-shaped rings were made on purpose, but they're not even all the way around, so I don't think they are part of the design.I normally sand and oil any wood products that come in contact with food, such as boards and rolling pins, so that I know the surfaces are food-safe. Because I am familiar with acacia -- Hawaiian koa is a member of the acacia family -- I know what to expect when removing the finish on this board, and that applying foodsafe oil will highlight the variety of colors in the wood and grain. Doing so will also allow me to remove a bit of wood that got captured in the finish material and made a raised bump, and to smooth out the router marks in the cracker well.