My pastry chef daughter commissioned me to make for her a kneading table. I don’t know what it was, nor have I the slightest clue why kneading dough for making bread requires a specialized table. So I went and Googled the thing after her gesticulations for what it was confused me further.

Here’s my find. There isn’t a thing called a kneading table, but there is a kneading board. These boards are made out of thick pieces of dimensional timber that are glued together to create a plank. These planks have cleats for latching to a table edge, so it doesn’t slip or slide while being worked on. But my daughter doesn’t want any of these contraptions; she wants a sturdy table that will take a beating. Ka kuyaw ba.

She can be hard-headed, you know. When she wraps her mind about doing something, she’s hell-bent on getting it done, come hell or high water. I guess that is being a badass for the positive kind. Excuse my French. I love you, Anak.

She gave me the money – exact to the amount of the cost of timber that I showed her. Lol. So I told my driver to go and get the lumber that I ordered and stay within traffic rules, else he couldn’t bail himself out of trouble or get into a traffic mess. Hehehe

The timbers came. They are massive and plentiful that they fill up all the space of my multicab. One might think that I am building a tiny house from it. To save cost, I ordered the rough-sewn kind of timber, which means forty-eight years of planning and ensuring that they all sit flushed when jointed.

This project, ginormous as it may seem, still draws on the same carpentry skills. Hence, do not be intimidated by it. One might need more hands or clamps to hold things in place or an ample space to wing things around, but they’re all drawn to the same skill set. So I got on the challenge, and boy, I nailed it.

I didn’t get this a coat of paint, wood stain, or clear finish. It will look nice but remember that this table will meet the ingredient that makes up your bread. So, nada.

Get yourself and kneading board than a massive table – they both work just fine. If you’re like my daughter that insists on a table that can stand an atom bomb, then flash me an “HM” or a “how much.” Caveat: they’ll cost you an arm and a leg.

LESSON:

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DOUGLAS REY B. BERIDO

drberido@yahoo.com | Kagudoy Road, Basak, Lapu Lapu City, Cebu, The Philippines