Who’s got the kishka?

As a Cleveland native, I seldom think of Christmas without thinking of Eastern European food specialties.

My family was especially fond of stollen and lebkuchen (both of which I still make every year and ship to my mother), pfeffernuesse, springerle, poppy-seed and nut rolls and other Austrian/German/Hungarian foods, as well as those beloved by our Polish neighbors and friends. The Polish specialties I can’t begin to correctly pronounce, let alone spell, but they include cabbage rolls and pierogi and kielbasa and kishka, the last of which Nancy Carey is seeking.

Now we come to one of those numerous points of culinary confusion, which include just what sea bass really is and why butter sticks are long and skinny in the Eastern part of the country, short and fat in the West. I suspect Carey is looking for Polish kishka because she said it was blood sausage (which I neglected to mention in her query), but two readers reported finding sources for Jewish kishka, which is filled with meal, fat and spices.

At any rate, for those who are looking for kishka, or kishka: Ann Brown emailed that it can be found in the kosher section at Smith’s at 2211 N. Rampart Blvd., while Naomi Plisky found it in the kosher department at Albertsons at 2550 S. Fort Apache Road.

And for those looking for Polish kishka, I can report that it’s available at the Polish Deli at 5900 W. Charleston Blvd.

You’re on your own re: the butter sticks. …

MORE READER FINDS

For Bud Smith, Roberta Shulman emailed that she has purchased onion rye at Trader Joe’s but that they don’t always have it, so she suggests calling ahead to check. …

For Ed Halley, who’s looking for a restaurant that specializes in good chicken mole dishes, Ann Brown recommended Bonito Michoacan, 3715 S. Decatur Blvd. …

For Frank Dutra, who is looking for pork or veal patties, we got no response regarding the ground type, but Angelica Orme noted that veal pounded thin is available at Costco at 791 Marks St. in Henderson. …

MORE READER REQUESTS

Jean Ann Custino is looking for sauerkraut juice, for making her Christmas-eve mushroom soup. …

Morgan Blakeley is looking for Farm Rich snacks, preferably in the western or northwestern part of the valley. …

Liese Peterson is looking for a local source for raclette cheese. …

Barbara Pielka is looking for frozen coconut pie to bake at home, which she used to get in East Coast markets. …

And Hank Miller is looking for reader suggestions for the best Italian submarine sandwich. …

Readers?

A HEALTH AND SAFETY TIP

If you’re planning to deep-fry a turkey for one of your holiday dinners, know that the used oil can be taken to the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Friday through Jan. 15. It’s part of the Clark County Water Reclamation District’s “Don’t Be a Pain in the Drain” campaign.

Submit information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. You also can send faxes to 702-383-4676 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. Follow @HKRinella on Twitter.