Meet the crew · The woodworker · hedgehog
Spike’s story
Spike makes cutting boards at the Woodcutter’s Camp. He is very proud of them. He counts them whenever Gerzsi visits.
- Oils every board by hand, once a month.
- Puts a damp towel under every board he sells. Free.
- Has a list. Gerzsi is on it.
Spike lives two bends below the mill, in a clearing that smells of sawdust and pine. He makes cutting boards: big, heavy, beautiful ones.
He is not a talker. If you ask him about a board, he will tell you the wood, the grain and the weight. If you ask him about anything else, he will go back to sanding.
The day Gerzsi visited, a brand-new board ended up with a small half-moon bite out of the corner. Every one of Spike’s spines stood straight up. Gerzsi called it quality control.
Chef Tamás paid for the bitten board. Spike forgave Gerzsi, mostly. He still counts his boards when the beaver is around.
His one rule, carved over the workshop door: “It must not slip. It must be kind to the knife. And it must be big.”
🛍️ Spike’s pocket picks
- Winco Statik Board 15″ × 20″: ATK’s large plastic board winner. Stays flat in the dishwasher. Very hard to bite. (about $25) · Check on Amazon
- OXO Good Grips Carving and Cutting Board: ATK’s lightweight pick, with a juice groove for roasts. (about $25) · Check on Amazon
- Teakhaus Edge Grain XL (the splurge): ATK’s wood board winner. 18 × 24 inches of Spike’s dream. (about $155) · Check on Amazon
Test results from America’s Test Kitchen, explained in the full guide: Best cutting boards: wood vs plastic. Prices checked October 2026; they change often. Affiliate links: how we make money.
Read Spike in the adventures: Stop 5: The Woodcutter’s Camp
Spike is made up, like everyone on the river except Chef Tamás. The gear is real.
