Readers all scream ideas for ice cream

Most of us who are transplants to the valley -- and again, that's most of us -- occasionally pine for one or more of the favorite foods of home. For Sandra Leftakes and many ex-Texans I know, those include Blue Bell ice cream, which is a tough find in the valley. So Leftakes was looking for reader suggestions for a good substitute vanilla ice cream.

Bob Drabicki recommended Anderson's, which he finds at Smith's and at Glazier's Food Marketplace, 8525 W. Warm Springs Road, and he noted that it still comes in half-gallons. Maryann Casella recommended Blue Bunny, available at most supermarkets, and Roberta Shulman recommended the vanilla-bean flavor at Trader Joe's. Judianne Oleson noted that Blue Bell is available at grocery stores in Kingman, Ariz., (and added that it still comes in half-gallons as well), and Joyce Hambacher reported that Outback Steakhouses serve Blue Bell ice cream. ...

For Les Altman, who's looking for a restaurant that serves great fried chicken, preferably family-style, Oleson recommended Catfish Alley (although she noted that it's not served family-style), which is at 467 E. Silverado Ranch Blvd. and in the Hawaiian Marketplace at 3743 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Toby Katz recommended the fried chicken at Lakes Lounge at 2920 Lake East Drive. ...

For Dorothy Montesano, Danny Calico and Laura Ring reported that Angela Mia crushed tomatoes are back at Sam's Club. ...

For Paulette Juryn, who's looking for bufala mozzarella, Joan O'Connell and Jan Visser said that it's sold at Trader Joe's, and Visser noted it is imported from Italy. O'Connell and Calico also spotted it at Costco, and Calico said he has seen it at Sam's Club. ...

For Jim Guynup, Renee Diamond reported finding Sugar Free Oreos at Walgreens at 2451 Hampton Road in Henderson, and Ruth Kohout found them at Walmart at 4505 W. Charleston Blvd. ...

Here are more reader requests.

Hambacher: restaurants with corn fritters on the menu;

Connie Hollenbeck: Skotidakis yogurt, dips and/or goat cheese;

John Bisci Jr.: Aunt Kitty's Foods Castleberry's American Original hot dog chili;

Rosalia VanTichelt: stores that sell bulk grains such as quinoa, steel-cut oats and brown rice, and dried fruits;

Sheila McMahon: any brand of pineapple preserves (not apricot-pineapple);

Henri Sedenic: merguez lamb sausages;

Don Maina: Albuquerque Tortilla Co. products, especially tamales;

And Fran Wilson: Otis Spunkmeyer frozen oatmeal cookie dough.

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 email her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Include your first and last names and, if emailing, put "Taste of the Town" in the subject line. Because of the volume of mail received, we can't respond to each request.