Best finish for place mats

My partner and I are wanting to make some place mats possibly for sale down the track a bit.
The ruff design so far is a substrate of pine(please don't go yuk because I personally don't mind a bit of pine from time to time)and a piece veneer let in on each side.
Basically a sandwich of veneer and pine with the pine exposed by around 20 mm on both long sides.
Ending up around 6 mm or so thick
And about 350/400by about 250mm
The veneer will no doubt be some sort of Australia hard wood .
But my question is what sort of finish to use considering there purpose and the different timber types one a soft wood one a hardwood.?
WOP low sheen/gloss ?
Oil of some sort ?
Some sort of wax
Shellac
We don't won't to have spend hours on a finish.After a low sheen or gloss but not plastic looking gloss.
And these will be place mats.
So not sure if they need to be food safe?
Also I imagine they will see hot plates from time to time bowl of soup spilled wine coffee/tea the normal house old abuse.