Erika, I got my soapstone from Dorado Soapstone in Shrewsbury, MA. I know you followed my countertop saga so I won't repeat it all here. But in a nutshell, I had 2 slabs of Nordic Black Antique granite on hold with a local granite fabricator when I drove down to look at soapstone one more time. I was so pleased with the selection and the education I received at Dorado. They only deal in soapstone and knew so much more about it than granite dealers/fabricators. They referred me to a strictly soapstone fabricator, who gave me an excellent price. However, I had already put my deposit down w/the granite fabricator and they were going to charge me a restocking fee if I did not have them do the work (the granite was still at the stoneyard BTW), so I had Dorado deliver the soapstone to them and they fabricated it for me. They did a decent job. But if I had to do it all over again, I would definitely have a soapstone fabricator do the work. We had to call down to Dorado several times with questions as the granite fabs did not know enough about soapstone. They were trying to treat ss like granite and it is a totally different stone. The good thing is that they did listen and were open to being educated about soapstone. I can't say enough good things about Dorado. They even called and checked on how our install went after the fact and have been available to answer any questions I have had along the way. If you decide to go with soapstone, drive down there and talk with Dave (the owner). You will have a much larger selection than you will at Marble and Granite, Elemar or Boston Granite Exchange. (Boston Granite Exchange has an enormous selection of granite and marble, triple anyone else around, but they know very little about soapstone and some of the stones they call soapstone are really serpentines.) I did not get runnels. If I had to do it over again, I would definitely get them. Private email me and we can set up a time for you to look at what my installed soapstone looks like.

Before I started planning disposables for family dinner, and cooking and freezing at my mother's house, I did have a plan... (Donka, thanks for the sympathy!) My new kitchen is going to be initiated with an open house style party. Lots of hors d'oeuvre (borekes, especially, from the new convection oven), salads (steamed vegetable salad from the new steam oven), roasts, and breads and cakes. What I'm really looking forward to, besides reliable ovens, is capacity. The ability to put on a real spread. The dinner for 22 is usually just family dinner, and if I hadn't packed the stock pot, carving knife, roaster and company dishes I wouldn't be stressing. But fifty? I'm really looking forward to being able to cook for the whole family, let alone friends too...

Much of soapstone has green in it, even if the overall effect is black. I have Minas and when you walk in my kitchen, it looks black. But when you get close to it, you can see green in it. Beleza when oiled, looks black, but when not oiled looks green. Julia is green unoiled, but more black when oiled. Cobra turns solid black when oiled. Santa Rita would look black with white veining, but tends to be soft. If you choose to go with soapstone, really check out the individual slabs to make sure they are hard enough for you, as some can be easily scratched and dinged while others never get a mark. The Nordic Black Antique granite that Catsam has on her island and Jen4268 has in her kitchen is a great choice if you want a granite that looks black but has texture and subtle movement in it and is low maintenance.

Thank you so much Pluckymama. That is a great help (and you are right, they do look great). I am off tomorrow to see a few more slabs of SS (Minas and Beleza) and will take another look at the Nordic Black. The Mumbai Grey SS that I took a sample of is doing the same watermark thing you are experiencing (and wow, the mineral oil only holds for a day at most). Soapstone International has told me it has to do with the finish (which they 400 grit, but that sounded kind of crazy considering). As I was thinking about the watermark issue, I just wondered if anyone has tried carnuba wax? I say this because it is used on cars (stay with me), and on the glossy coating of candy (like M&Ms). My thinking? Food grade, OK. And if it buffs to the point that it protects car exteriors, it is obviously durable.