No need to be crabby about seafood

Not that I'm feeling particularly crabby today, but we have crabs in the news for two readers.

For Deanna Smith, who's looking for Maryland blue crabs, Cristina Constantin e-mailed that she gets live ones from Nevada Seafood Wholesalers, 6225 Harrison Drive (489-4646), adding that while it's a wholesaler, the company "still makes the effort to satisfy individuals with smaller requests like me." And Ron Lutz of The Butcher Block, 7625 S. Rainbow Blvd., said he carries them live as well. ...

For Pam Ghertner, who's looking for the Phillips crabmeat she used to get at Costco, Lindsay Dorwick e-mailed that she found it at Smart & Final in Bullhead City, Ariz., and suggests local residents call their nearest stores to check. Chris Jensen of Village Meat & Wine, 5025 S. Eastern Ave., said he carries it as well, and so does Lutz. ...

Lutz said he also carries the smoked butt Smith is looking for. ...

For Kim Zimmerman, who's looking for pickled watermelon rind, Dean B. Pomerantz e-mailed that most Smith's stores carry the Reese brand in the pickle-and-olive section, and Jensen said he carries it, too. ...

(And this would be a good time to point out that if you're looking for hard-to-find items, The Butcher Block and Village Meat & Wine would be good places to start, as well as the International Marketplace, 5000 S. Decatur Blvd. ...)

For Mamie Glorioso, who's looking for sugar-free Italian ice cups, Roberta Cardillo said the PhillySwirl brand, made with Splenda, is available at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 3950 W. Lake Mead Blvd. in North Las Vegas. ...

For Mark Russo, who's looking for burger-sized pretzel rolls, Marie Villareale recommended Great Buns Bakery, 3270 E. Tropicana Ave. ...

And for Nancy Halpin, who's looking for demerara sugar, Susan Abraham said it's available at Williams-Sonoma at 1001 S. Rampart Blvd. (there are two other locations in the valley), but added that Trader Joe's Organic Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar is similar and less expensive. ...

Reader requests: Abraham is looking for a local source for good-quality diet ginger ale (such as Schweppes, Seagram's or Canada Dry) and Ore-Ida Cottage Fries. ...

Kay Scott is looking for Stadium Mustard, made in Cleveland, and any brand of diet grape soda. ...

Brad Peterson is looking for lavender honey. ...

Lee Williamson is looking for Cafe Bustelo Mexican blend instant coffee. ...

Fred and Sheila Akins are looking for a local source for cream of asparagus soup. ...

Ted Wargo is looking for Delallo Lupini Beans, which he used to get at Vons. ...

Judy Norton is looking for Carroll Shelby's chili mix. ...

Donna Snyder is looking for Genmaicha Extra Green Japanese Green Tea from Shirakata-Denshiro Shoten Inc. ...

And former New Yorkers Suzanne and Mark Toubin are looking for real New York half-sour pickles and Friendship brand cottage cheese.

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.