From press release

In 1962, the Temple Beth-El sisterhood decided to hold a fund-raiser to furnish the kitchen of the building the congregation had just moved to. That fund-raiser became known as Food-A-Rama, and it continues, this year, scheduled for 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, at Temple Beth-El, 1203 Comanche Drive, Rockford.

Food-A-Rama’s lunch option (10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) features an $8.50 take-out bag lunch consisting of a delicious, generously filled, quarter-pound corned beef sandwich, a deli pickle, chips and mandelbrot (Jewish biscotti). Or, for those who want to “eat in,” $8.50 buys a lunch that includes a generously filled quarter-pound corned beef sandwich, a deli pickle, coleslaw, baked beans and mandelbrot.

And new this year, in addition to the regular event, Temple Beth-El will also have a dinner carryout from 3 to 7 p.m.

Last year, approximately 900 pounds of corned beef, 2,400 dill pickles and 300 pounds of rye bread were sold. In addition, more than 190 pounds of hot dogs and 50 pounds of salami were sold. That’s a lot of deli items! And, although 47 years have gone by, the baked beans created by Dr. Aaron Raffle are still enormously popular. His recipe is still used, and Raffle’s baked beans are available at the deli counter.

Shoppers can also buy the homemade cakes and cookies and breads on sale in the bakery in addition to the blintzes, pastrami, corned beef, salami, chopped liver and other specialties for sale in the deli.

There is no admission fee, and visitors can shop in the bakery and deli without buying a lunch.

Visitors can eat in, carry out or take advantage of the express drive-through window.

Call in by noon, Monday, May 17, for free delivery of orders of 10 or more lunches to a single address in the Rockford area. Orders should be phoned or faxed in to the Temple office by Monday, May 17. Phone: (815) 398-5020 or fax (815) 398-5079.

For more information, contact Temple Beth-El at (815) 398-5020.

More about Food-A-Rama

Food-A-Rama, the annual Jewish lunch, deli takeout and bake sale extravaganza opens Wednesday, May 19.

Did you know? An annual rite of spring, Food-A-Rama started as a simple fund-raiser in 1962.

From the start, lunches featuring corned beef sandwiches were served. They still are. Along with a generous corned beef sandwich on rye, this year the take-out lunch includes a juicy pickle, potato chips and a delectable piece of mandelbrot. The cost is $8.50. New this year will be a dinner carryout service from 3 to 7 p.m.!

Enjoyment by the pound. At first, the only takeouts were cheese blintzes and baked goods. Over the years, more and more Jewish specialties were offered. Bagels and Jewish rye bread, unknown here years ago, were imported from Chicago and now, in addition to the breads, kosher-style corned beef and all-beef franks by the pound, blintzes, bagel-dogs, herring, chopped liver, Raffle’s baked beans, ruglach, other home-baked pastries, breads, and deli specialties are available for take out.

Raffle’s baked beans still a hit. Although 47 years have gone by, the baked beans created by Dr. Aaron Raffle are still enormously popular. His recipe is still used, and Raffle’s baked beans are available at the deli counter.

Call in by noon, Monday, May 17, for free delivery of orders of 10 or more lunches to a single address in the Rockford area. Orders should be phoned or faxed into the Temple office by Monday, May 19. Phone: (815) 398-5020 or fax (815) 398-5079

A drive-through line speeds up the process for those in a hurry. Companies can specify the time they wish to pick lunches up, and their order will be ready and waiting.

Buy a ticket at the door, get a lunch to eat in or take out, and take some time to shop at the deli—or just stop by, come in and shop at the deli, no ticket necessary.