Shopkeepers in the know about turtles

Turtle meat?

No, it's decidedly not a favorite of most Americans -- not as popular as, say, hamburgers, hot dogs and apple pie -- but if you've had good turtle soup, you understand the appeal. And this week we have good news for reader Judy Bowen: Ron Lutz of The Butcher Block, 7625 S. Rainbow Blvd., and Chris Jensen of Village Meat & Wine, 5025 S. Eastern Ave., both e-mailed that they carry it. ...

For Leslie Karns, Lutz said he also carries shishito peppers. ...

For JoAnne H. Green, who's looking for Ralston 100 Percent Wheat Hot Cereal, Elizabeth Emmick and Joe Schaake said it's available at www.VermontCountryStore. com (or call 802-362-8460), and Elaine Frazier suggested www.HometownFavorites.com. ...

For Keith Bell, who's looking for dill potato chips, Maury Astley e-mailed that he found them at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 5200 S. Fort Apache Road. ...

For Barb Lakkard, who's looking for a local source for the olive salad for muffuletta sandwiches, Roger S. Kneass, who lived in Louisiana for 29 years, said there isn't one, and recommended www.AuntSallys.com, or (800) 642-7257. ...

For Ginny Margeri, who's looking for Simon Fisher Prune Lekvar, Paula Rosa e-mailed that for 10 years she has been buying it directly from the company at www.SoloFoods.com (or call 800-328-7656). ...

For Leanne Garrett, who's looking for Tone Freeze-Dried Mushrooms, Pat Montgomery said she found them recently in the spice section at Sam's Club at 7175 Spring Mountain Road, adding that they come in a smaller container than before. ...

For Karen Harris, who's looking for Trappey's black-eyed peas, Terrylea Hankins e-mailed that they and other Trappey's products are available at Wal-Mart. ...

And for Pauline Ruhl, who's looking for Ore-Ida Vidalia O's onion rings, Hankins was told by the company that they had been discontinued, although Kevin Walker learned from familial sources that they've been renamed Ore-Ida Gourmet Onion Rings, which he has found at Smith's at 6130 W. Tropicana Ave. and the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 5200 S. Fort Apache Road. Because availability is spotty, he also has bought the store brand -- of sliced onions, not minced -- at both locations and found them almost acceptable substitutes. ...

Reader requests: Hankins is looking for Campfire marshmallows. ...

Susan Douthart is looking for Seaside Butter Beans. ...

Jan Dobiesz is looking for a restaurant that serves fried smelt. ...

Lawrence Harris is looking for Miller's Blue Ribbon beef smoked sausage. ...

Terri Hohl is looking for HP steak sauce, which she used to find at Vons and Smith's. ...

Eugene Wagner is looking for a South African ruby port that's 21 percent alcohol, which he tasted at a wine show at the South Point. ...

Sharon Stockle is looking for a place that serves black-bottom pie, similar to that Marie Callender's used to serve. ...

And Dorothy Ohara is looking for Pillsbury caramel rolls in a can.

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.