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Flavors of York: Five things to know


Temple Beth Israel is bringing back its Flavors of York fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 1, which will give people a chance to try a variety of foods in one night. Here's what you need to know about the event, which is taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at The Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E. Market St., York.

1.) The event is returning after an absence of multiple years.

Temple Beth Israel organized the event in 2006 and 2008, said congregation president Deena Gross. Hundreds of people attended those fundraisers. For each of those years, about $8,000 - a portion of the proceeds - was donated to Our Daily Bread, a York soup kitchen, according to newspaper archives.

In an email, Gross said this "is a great year to revive the event because of the renaissance of foodie culture in York."

2.) There will be a variety of food.

"We want to have something for everyone," Gross said.

Market Street Viet Thai Cafe plans to serve chicken satay with peanut sauce, vegetable dumplings and vegetable eggrolls.

Those are some of the restaurant's most popular items, said restaurant co-owner Jennifer DiMarcello. Earlier this month, DiMarcello and her husband, Joe, were in the process of opening another location in Springettsbury Township. They planned to temporarily close the York location.

They said the Flavors of York event is a chance to introduce their food to new people.

Janina Turziak, owner of Janina's Fine Desserts on the 100 block of Leader Heights Road in York Township, said she plans to make some fall and holiday-themed sweets, including ones with apple and pumpkin flavors.

Deli Delicious, of the 900 block of South George Street, near York Hospital, will have a variety of cheeses, sandwiches and other items, said owner Emad Ibrahim. He said he wants to "make the community aware of what we do and the quality" of his restaurant's food.

Other participating restaurants include Tutoni's, The Handsome Cab, DiCarlo's Pizza and York City Pretzel Company.

Restaurants are donating the food for the event, said Gross.

3.) Organizers asked restaurants not to brings dishes with pork or shellfish. Neither adhere to Jewish dietary laws.

4.) There will be other attractions. York County jazz standards band Five/Four will perform. There will also be dozens of silent auctions featuring gift certificates for restaurants, golf packages and other items.

5.) Tickets cost $35 each if ordered in advance or $40 at the door. You can get them by calling 717-843-2676, 717-659-3792, or by visiting www.flavorsofyork.com. A limited number of tickets remain, an event organizer said on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Proceeds benefit Temple Beth Israel in York Township and its Doing Good for Goode program at Goode K-8 School in York. The program has provided pencils, crayons and paper to students and helped restore a previously overgrown courtyard area.

Nada Seidon, a Temple Beth Israel member and coordinator for the program, said teachers at the school are using the space as an outdoor classroom to help students learn things, such as why bees are important to pollination.

Seidon said some Boy Scouts are also working on projects related to the courtyard area.

"It's exciting to see this happen, and to see the kids benefit," said Seidon.

The school, at 251 N. Broad St., is named for Alexander D. Goode, a former Temple Beth Israel rabbi who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1943, he and three other military chaplains gave their life jackets to others when their ship was sunk by a German submarine.