Readers write in for information on hard-to-find food items

Jan. 30, 2019

Ham salad is one of those things we used to find everywhere, in virtually every supermarket deli. And as Tom Fitzgerald discovered, that’s not the case anymore.

But his fellow Food Finders found there is one exception: Honey Baked Ham. Claire Veyveris, Ann Brown, Barbara Laird, Darlene Nix and Sharon and Greg Griffith all recommended the company, which has stores in the east, west and northern parts of the valley.

For Larry Urbanek, Laura Ring said she, too, had been purchasing Alessi breadsticks at the now-closed Glazier’s Food Marketplace. She now gets them by the case from amazon.com.

Although our weather’s been a little chilly lately, spring isn’t far away, and here’s another reminder: The Fresh 52 Farmers’ & Artisan Market has returned to Sansone Park Place at 9480 S. Eastern Ave. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

More reader requests

Susan Katz is looking for any flavor of Barry’s Bakery French twist cookies, which she used to find at Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market.

Neal Husak is looking for a restaurant that serves fish and chips in which the fish is coated with bread crumbs before frying — not panko or beer batter.

Joan Miller is looking for Entenmann’s chocolate chip cookies, which she used to find at local stores including Albertsons.

And from Cal Thoman, here’s another perennial request in this column over the years: a local spot, preferably in Henderson, that serves an Iowa-style loose-meat sandwich. He’s also looking for a supermarket or butcher that sells pork belly, again, preferably in Henderson.

Readers?

Jan. 23, 2019

Bob Holzlohner and his wife are looking for a non-casino restaurant, preferably on the east side of the valley, that offers good takeout spaghetti and meatballs, and of course, readers had suggestions for such a favorite.

Bobbie Wilkinson recommended Casa Di Amore at 2850 E. Tropicana Ave., and Patricia Schmitt likes Prosecco Fresh Italian Kitchen at 8878 S. Eastern Ave., both noting that these are not takeout restaurants per se, but will package food to go. Hannah Moriarty recommended Las Olivos Ristorante at 3759 E. Desert Inn Road. And Ann Brown recommended Metro Pizza, which has five locations in the valley.

For Linda Valkenburg, Katie Martin Waldman said country ham is available at Valley Cheese & Wine at 1570 W. Horizon RidgeBlvd. in Henderson — and added that the store carries White Lily Flour (another perennial request in this column), which, she said, “makes the best biscuits!”

More on scrapple: Kathy Marticello reported finding Dietz & Watson brand at The Butcher Block, which has three locations in the valley.

More on pastina: Brown found Casa de la Rustica brand at Siena Deli at 9500 W. Sahara Ave.

More reader requests

Tom Fitzgerald is looking for ham salad, which he used to get at Walmart, Smith’s or Albertsons stores.

V. Stout is looking for Perdue Turkey Breakfast Sausage Links from a source other than Amazon, where it’s in 10-pound lots.

Rebecca Hughes is looking for Hady tea, which a friend brought her from Paris.

And Carolee Phillips is looking for a local source for Quaker Puffed Rice Cereal.

Readers?

Jan. 16, 2019

You may have noticed something a little different this week: Taste of the Town has a new name, Food Finders. That’s the only thing that’s changed, though, so please keep those requests and finds coming.

Ah, scrapple. Others may cast a dubious eye, but for those who hail from the East Coast, especially the Philadelphia area, it’s a hometown favorite. It is a concoction of pork scraps, cornmeal, flour and spices that’s sliced and pan-fried and usually served for breakfast. Column readers have sources for David Thompson, who’s looking for it. Pat McManis, Stephen Salchenberger, Peg McKelvie and Sandy Daniel found it at separate Smith’s stores, adding that it’s in the frozen-foods section.

For Tom Fitzgerald, who’s looking for Malvasia wine, Ann Brown said it’s available at Total Wine & More, which has four stores in the valley.

For Angie Reiss, who’s looking for teriyaki-flavor Rice-a-Roni, Ashlee Hanson spotted it at the Walmart Supercenter at 6005 S.Eastern Ave.

Also for Reiss, Laura Crowton emailed that she found pastina both in the pasta section and soup section at Smith’s at 2211 N.Rampart Blvd.

More reader requests

Mary Harmon is looking for loaves of cornmeal mush, ready for slicing and frying.

David Williams is looking for a seven-layer sponge cake with hard chocolate icing, similar to one made by a bakery in the Queens borough of New York.

Ellen Hamil is looking for 27-ounce cans of whole mild Hatch green chile, which she used to find at Walmart.

And R.J. McIntyre is looking for tarragon vinegar.

Readers?

Jan. 9, 2019

When Wanda Barclay asked for a source for Tom & Jerry batter, I was a little dismayed that it was too late for this traditional holiday drink, but I reconsidered after the weather we’ve had lately, which makes a warm adult beverage seem like a fine idea.

Sherry Barnes of St. George, Utah, emailed that while “nothing beats the old-fashioned kind like Mama used to make,” Trader Vic’s makes a good substitute and it’s available at Total Wine & More (as well as at tradervics.com, where she said it’s more expensive).

And Roger Liermann sent his recipe: Separate 8 room temperature eggs. Beat the whites until stiff, adding 1 tablespoon cream of tartar and 1 teaspoon salt, plus 3 cups of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat the yolks with 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, then fold into whites. Put a dollop atop a cup of hot water and equal parts whiskey, rum and brandy.

More on ultrafresh olive oil: Roger D. Gehring of Henderson emailed to say he has a ranch in Amargosa Valley with 4,000 olive trees and makes oil that’s sold through Pahrump Valley Winery. In case his name rings a bell, the Roger D. Gehring Academy of Science and Technology on Richmar Avenue was named for him; he spent 50 years in the school system.

More reader requests

J.J. Sharbaugh is looking for mizithra cheese, which used to be available at Whole Foods Market and Smith’s.

Michael Plaisted is looking for authentic croissants.

Paulette Juryn is looking for a source for “really tasty tomatoes; these hothouse tomatoes are so bad!”

And Jeffrey and Kirsten Marsh are looking for reader suggestions for a store that sells sliced bread that makes “nice, buttery, crispy toast.”

Readers?

Send requests to Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0474 (put “Food Finders” in the subject line). Follow @HKRinella on Twitter.