For the past few years, corned beef and pastrami have been engaged in an epic battle with Peking Duck and General Tso to win Teaneck’s Helping Hands Food Pantry annual pre-Passover food collection challenge.

Each year, customers of Noah’s Ark and Chopstix face off against each other in the contest to have their favorite food establishment declared the winner of the collection challenge.

“For over 11 years, Noah’s Ark has been proud to sponsor, with Chopstix, the largest annual food drive for the Teaneck Food Pantry,” said Noam Sokolow, owner of Noah’s Ark Deli & Shelly’s Dairy Restaurant.

“Last year’s challenge realized over 400 bags of cereal, pancake mix, flour, tuna, ketchup, diapers and toiletries for the Food Pantry, just as supplies were low and they were most in need,” stated Elie Y. Katz of Chopstix. “Noam helps store the food and delivers the food bags to the pantry with his staff and catering truck.”

This year’s contest runs from March 25 through April 20. Donations of unopened, non-refrigerated food, and toiletries, will be accepted and greatly appreciated at the following Teaneck locations: Chopstix, 172 West Englewood Avenue; Noah’s Ark, 493 Cedar Lane; Shelly’s Dairy Restaurant, 482 Cedar Lane Teaneck.

This is a contest where everyone wins! The Teaneck Helping Hands Food Pantry receives desperately needed food and donors can clear their pantries while helping their neighbors. Last year, Noah’s Ark won the contest.

By Elie Y. Katz, Uri Herzog,
Chef Peter and Noam Sokolow