Taste of the Town: Sharp-eyed readers find whole line of Watkins spices

When I received a query from James Mourglia, who’s looking for Watkins vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, I figured that, at best, we’d end up with an online source. Once again, hawk-eyed Taste of the Town readers surprised me.

“Wal-Mart has a whole line of Watkins spices now,” emailed Ilene Farr, who added that she noticed them at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 5200 S. Fort Apache Road. Karen A. Parrish emailed that she spotted Watkins Vanilla Extract at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market at 6310 W. Charleston Blvd. …

For Paula Newman, Farr reported finding cherry kijafa at some Lee’s Discount Liquor stores but not all, suggesting a phone call to check. …

For Joe Iezzi, who’s looking for “some real honest-to-God Sunday gravy,” Michele Bonelli recommended Cugino’s Italian Deli &Pizza at 4550 S. Maryland Parkway, and Robert Lepore recommended the Tagliatelle Bolognese at The Sicilian Ristorante at 3520 E. Tropicana Ave., adding that, ironically, it’s closed on Sundays.

READER REQUESTS

Betty Watts is looking for low-carb pita bread and/or low-carb bagels. …

Bill Shuman is looking for red-rind hoop cheese, which he said also is known as rat cheese; the Georgia native said it’s available at every grocery store in the South. …

Pia Kilm is looking for a local source for Swedish crispbread, which she said she found at Big Lots last year. …

Jennie Waldman is looking for a local source for Lactaid cottage cheese, available on the East Coast. …

And Jim Guynup is looking for Kona coffee “at a reasonable price.”

NEWS FOR FOODIES

More than 30 food trucks from across the country will be at the Silverton, 3333 Blue Diamond Road, Friday through Sunday for the Las Vegas Foodie Fest. The event also will include a visit from the White Castle folks, who will be bringing twice as many grills as last year. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10. For tickets and more information, visit www.LasVegasFoodieFest.com. …

There aren’t many combinations better than brats and beer, and they’ll both be the stars of a weekend event at Big Dog’s Draft house at 4543 N. Rancho Drive. The Wisconsin-Style Brat Party, from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, will feature more than 40 brews and live music, and $1 for every Big Dog’s Ol’ Jack Pumpkin Ale sold will be donated to the Animal Foundation. Admission is free. …

Brats and beer also will be in abundance at the fourth annual Fall Beer Festival at the Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St. It’ll start with the All-American Craft Beer Tasting from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, followed by the Oktoberfest Pool Party from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the tasting, with a commemorative glass and samples of more than 125 beers, are $50; the pool party, with samples of more than 150 beers available, is free, with food and beer for purchase. Combo tickets for the tasting and the pool party’s food and beer tickets are available. Visit www.GoldenNugget.com or call 866-946-5336.

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.