Belly clam search a success

I finally have good news for all of the readers out there -- and believe me, there are lots of you -- who are looking for whole-belly clams.

I was speaking recently to Rick Moonen, chef/owner of rm seafood at Mandalay Bay, when he mentioned that he serves "Ipswich clams -- real belly clams."

Hang on a sec ...

"I'm happy to serve them," Moonen said. "I love fried belly clams."

So there you have it, readers -- the only local source that has crossed my path in quite some time (and something I hadn't noticed when dining in Moonen's restaurants). Moonen said he serves them mostly in his casual downstairs cafe, but that customers in the more upscale upstairs restaurant can get them by request as well.

And here's a tip for locals: Since Moonen's restaurant technically is in Mandalay Place, just off the Mandalay Bay casino, an easy way to access it is by using the Mandalay Place valet. And use Frank Sinatra Drive to avoid Strip traffic. ...

For Carol Sullivan, who's looking for champagne vinegar, Marion Bott e-mailed that it can be found at Vons at 6450 Sky Point Drive, Bob Barnes and Jan Visser said they find it at Whole Foods Market (which has four locations in the valley) and Barnes also mentioned Sunflower Farmer's Market (which is at 3365 E. Tropicana Ave. and 4020 S. Rainbow Blvd.). Beverly Rulli said she gets it at Williams-Sonoma in The District (there are two other Williams-Sonoma locations in the valley) and Chris Jensen, owner of Village Meat and Wine, 5025 S. Eastern Ave., said he carries it as well. ...

For Cassie Rickard, who's looking for quail eggs, Bott said they can be found at the International Marketplace, 5000 S. Decatur Blvd.; Pamela Moore said she finds them at 99 Ranch Market in China Town Plaza, 4155 Spring Mountain Road (and at other stores, but she said they're less expensive at 99 Ranch); Dedra E. Geran e-mailed that she found them at Liborio Market, 930 N. Lamb Blvd.; and Gina Tillman said she has seen them at Vons at 2667 Windmill Parkway in Henderson, in the produce section, near the herbs. ...

For Robert Fong, who's looking for date pieces in oat flour, Ann Clermont e-mailed that she gets them from www.sweetenergy.com (or call 800-979-3380). ...

Reader requests: Matt Karten is looking for Breakstone's Cottage Cheese, noting that while "Knudsen is the West Coast name, it's not the same." ...

Diane Williams is looking for Jolly Time salsa-flavored microwave popcorn. ...

Tom Garetto is looking for Bellissimo brand black pepper, 6 mesh. ...

Mary Stubblefield is looking for Klondike bars in the York Peppermint Pattie flavor. ...

Paula Hodis is looking for Sara Lee Pecan Coffee Cake and Green Giant Mushrooms in Butter Sauce. ...

And Richard Marmion is looking for Vintage brand seltzer in lemon-lime flavor, "or for that matter any seltzer. I have tried some that tasted like corn syrup with bubbles."

Readers?

Submit information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. You also can send faxes to 383-4676 or e-mail her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Include your first and last names and, if e-mailing, put "Taste of the Town" in the subject line. Because of the volume of mail received, we can't respond to each request.