Whimsical and intricately designed, Couroc trays were produced for more than 40 years by highly skilled artisans in Monterey, California. Due to a unique process of hand-inlaying natural materials and fusing them into phenolic resin, no two Couroc pieces are exactly alike. This unusual combination of a cheese board/tray has inlaid Vermont maple and is decorated with wine grapes and wine barrel, a natural companion with cheese. The Couroc Company, founded in 1948 in Monterey, CA, founder, Guthrie Courvoisier, worked with a variety of plastics while working in the war effort during WWII. He used his experience and developed a proprietary formula of phenolic resin material that was not only durable enough to form into trays but was also impervious to alcohol and flames. Courvoisier's wife, Moira Wallace, acted as Couroc's chief designer and led an art commune of skilled artisans in arranging an array of local items into Couroc's resin pieces. Couroc's products were very popular and sold in high-end department stores. Alongside its whimsical designs, the company's saying for its trays stated that "Any tray can serve a drink. Only Couroc can start a conversation." The company closed in the early 1990s. To clean a Couroc tray, use mild dish soap and warm water. Wipe the metal well to remove dirt and debris, rinse it thoroughly and towel it dry completely. Then, use a clean, soft cloth to buff away any smudges.