Some people like to set a table with their fine china, gleaming silver and delicate crystal.
And some of us are clumsy. (Or have young kids.)
But just because my great-grandmother’s china is seldom used at my house these days, doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy bringing out special pieces to our Shabbat table.
I just want those pieces to lean more toward the harder-to-destroy-in-one-fell-swoop side.
If you, too, are looking for pretty, special and durable tableware and serving pieces, let me introduce you to SWIRL.
Linda, the owner and craftswoman behind Swirlgifts, recently contacted me about hosting a giveaway for KOAB readers. I took one look at her website and jumped at the opportunity.
I love her funky style — multi-colored stones or beads, wrapped in a swirled pattern — and her reasonable prices (comprable items on Etsy sell for twice as much).
As if I wasn’t already in love, Linda offered to send me the giveaway prize that she would be sharing with my readers – in order to get my personal review on the pieces.
The package arrive quickly and was wrapped up in a pretty gold bow.
Inside was a gorgeous large basket, an amazing (seriously – amazing!) stainless steel bread knife, and a sweet little set of glass salt and pepper shakers.
The 15-inch basket immediately became our table’s breadbasket on Shabbat, lined with a simple white napkin.
But Linda also suggested a plethora of other uses for the basket, priced at $46:
- contain mail
- hold hand towels by the sink for netilat yedaim
- display utensils for a buffet dinner
- bring a 9×13 pyrex to the table – it fits snugly inside
- makes a great hostess or engagement gift
As for the little salt and pepper shakers ($18), this gift couldn’t have been better timed. We recently broke my favorite set of salt & pepper shakers (from a pottery collective in Jerusalem *see above about “durability”) and I was really missing them.
Which of course made SWIRL’s sweet little set all the more perfect. While these are just the right size for our minimal use of salt and pepper at the table, I’ve also had friends purchase several sets, so that every person – or couple – can have their own set. Lovely!
And finally the knife: I called it amazing, remember? Let me tell you why — by way of comparison.
I’ve given up on finding the perfect bread knife to use for Shabbat. Our challah knife, which we got as wedding gift, is pretty, but it’s a horrible knife. And our good bread knife works like a charm — but it’s far from delicate-looking.
The Swirl challah knife ($36), however, is both pretty and functional, for the win!
The 15-inch stainless steel knife is sturdy, cuts smoothly and feels solid in my hand. And the embellished stones are so sparkly!
I truly love all of the Swirl items I received – and am definitely happy to recommend her store to all of my readers.
Even more so because Linda has offered a to give KOAB readers FREE shipping and 20% off your Swirlgifts order when you use the coupon code KOAB20 at checkout. Place your orders for Passover early – before she starts to sell out!
I’m also beyond thrilled that Linda has offered to give away a $100 Swirl prize package to one lucky Kosher on a Budget reader.
The winner will receive:
- large embellished bread basket
- 15-inch embellished bread knife
- small embellished salt & pepper shakers
Here’s how to enter this giveaway:
#1. Leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite tableware or serving piece – for example, my etched glass salad bowl.
#2. For an additional entry, “like” Swirl’s Facebook page – then come back and leave a separate comment that you have done so.
#3. For another additional entry, subscribe to Kosher on a Budget’s new Passover Newsletter – then come back and leave a separate comment that you have done so.
Good Luck!
All entry forms will be verified. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18 only (sorry to all my Canadian and Israeli readers!). The giveaway will be open until 11:59 p.m. CST, Monday, March 4th, 2013.
The winner will be selected and notified on March 5th and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. Please add kosheronabudget@gmail.com to your approved email address list – so your winner’s notification doesn’t get sent to spam.
SWIRL provided me with one prize package, and will also provide the winner with his or her prize. For more information, see my disclosure policy.
Far Rockaway
I love my challah board that I bought in Amazing Savings for $3.99. It is a wooden tray with another slatted wooden piece that fits inside the tray. All of the crumbs fall to the bottom of the tray – never a mess on the table. How is that for being Kosher On A Budget?
Such cool stuff
Like swirl
I love my stove to table serving dishes best.
I love that bread basket!
I liked the swirl facebook page!
I love my Shabbos bread basket. I line it with
A cloth Shabbos naplin
My favorite serving piece is the cheese plate I painted myself at a paint-your-own pottery place a few years ago!
My three bowl dip server. I use it for chumus and salatim!
I liked Swirl’s Facebook Page!
We bought some small, beautiful, black pottery bowls to use when serving sushi (for soy sauce etc.) We have since used them for many other things!
I liked subscribed to Kosher on a Budget’s new Passover newsletter!
liked “Swirl”on Facebook!
signed up for your Passover newsletter- thanks!
bread basket
I liked Swirl
I joined the Passover on A budget newsletter
I liked swirl on facebook.
I don’t have a favorite serving piece, but I love everything Linda makes! Especially the pie server and salad serving pieces that we bought for my grandmother.
I hope that when I get married, I get some swirl pieces as presents so I can say they are my favorites =)
My favorite serving piece is a glass fish plate that I made. It’s perfect for gefilte fish.
Liked Swirl.
Subscribed to Pesach newsletter.
I enjoy many of my serving pieces because I love hosting shabbat and yom tov company, but my favorite piece is a small serving tray that I took from my mother’s home after she passed away.
Likes Swirl’s FB page
My Challah Board from my Bobba & Zaida (who are sadly not with s any more)
subscribed to Kosher on a Budget’s Passover Newsletter
Subscribed to Pesach newsletter.
I have a Wilton Armitage matching bowl and platter (did I spell that right?) that I love.
I liked the FB page!
Love the gift ideas!! “Liked” Swirl!
I subscribed to KOAB Pesach newsletter and can’t wait to get it!
love my challah board. Was a gift. Something that I would NEVER buy myself but is so beautiful, practical and durable. Silver tray with a challah board inlaid. Cut on the board, sweep the cut challah into the tray, remove knife and board from table, leaving the pretty silver tray on the table.
Subscribed to Pesach newsletter. Can’t believe it’s only 4 weeks away!!!! YIKES!!!
I have a bowl that my mother used, that is my favorite
My favorite serving piece is the large serving platter that my aunt and uncle OBM gave us for our wedding.
I liked the FB page.
I subscribed to the Pesach newsletter.
My favorite serving piece is the beautiful wood and silver challah tray my daughter brought back for me after her seminary year in Israel.
I liked the facebook page.
Unique salt and pepper shakers are great centerpieces, conversation starters and highly useful tableware pieces all at once!
I have s meat platter that my mother gave me with her china. It’s the perfect size for serving meat or chicken. I use it all the time!
i love love love the the serving platters that go from oven to table to fridg. they may be too hot coming out of oven so i let them cool off before serving or just put them on a plate or trivet or basket like this silver one and warn all not to touch it.
love the tray!
subscribed to passover newsletter
My favorite is a big glass salad bowl that goes with anything and everything can put in it.
I love my leaf platter
I liked Swirl
I signed up for the Passover newsletter
It is hard to pick my favorite serving piece- one I use a lot is similar to the basket you have but embellished with tiny beads. I use it with my Pyrex to enhance presentation and avoid having to use a trivet or potholders.
* Tried finding the facebook page for swirl gifts but couldn’t locate it to “like” it *
Subscribed to Passover newsletter