Shopkeepers in the know about turtles

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.