For those who have come across butter boards on your TikTok For You Page, you might be wondering what this new food trend is all about.
It's a fairly straightforward concept that sees one smear a load of butter on a cutting board, then top the block with flavour boosters such as honey, salt, or garlic, and then serve the blend with warm bread.
While it's not exactly the most hygienic food trend during the midst of a pandemic, the bread is intended to be rubbed against the board to collect the ingredients from the butcher block, and then be eaten like an appetiser on a charcuterie board.
Videos about the communal dip have garnered over eight million views on user @Justine_Snacks’ TikTok page.
"I wasn't expecting this to blow up!" Justine has commented on the virality of her original post.
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The idea has been credited to chef Joshua McFadden in his cookbook: Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables.
Fans have since been taking to social media to share their favourite recipes and rave over the simplicity and the decadent results.
However, not everyone is a fan.
Chef Kurt Evans spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer about sanitary concerns requiring the trend: “I would not want to eat off one of these at an event with like, 50 or more people.
"And if it’s for a large crowd, there would need to be proper spread cutlery. Don’t have people dipping in with their bread.”
Dr. Karan Rajan, a surgeon and social media influencer, spoke to Newsweek, stating: “Sharing [communal food] with others has certain obvious risks.
"If someone doesn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom it's an easy way for gastroenteritis to spread.”
Evans recommends a spreading knife be served alongside butter boards, and that the serving size of the butcher block should be
'super small' to cut down on potential food waste.
So, if you’re going to give it a go, maybe stick to a small crowd for now.
Perhaps even a crowd of one, and prepare to devour a lot of butter.
Topics: TikTok, Food And Drink
Helena Pantsis