Old-school bar burgers difficult to find

Although I don't have the perception that restaurant cooks -- here or anywhere else in the country -- pay a whole lot of attention to nutrition, it appears that Duane Cox is on the mark with his observation that an old-fashioned, greasy bar burger is getting hard to find, because we only have two suggestions from readers.

Elaine and John DeNiro recommended the lunch counter at Decatur Drug, 544 S. Decatur Blvd., and Patty Jacobs suggested the Freakin' Frog, 4700 S. Maryland Parkway. ...

For Joanie Bailey, who's looking for Pastosa Lobster Ravioli, Lorraine Largmann said she recently purchased it at LaDuca's New York Italian Deli, 72 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson, adding that she also got some Pastosa Cavatelli there. Mary Ann and Frank DeFrancesco also recommended LaDuca's, adding, "finally, we got some good Brooklyn stuff here in town. ... They got it all, and he makes Italian bread, too." ...

For C.G. Gauvin, who's looking for a restaurant that serves blood sausage, Jen Comas e-mailed to recommend Oiga, Mire Vea Colombian Cuisine at 2580 S. Decatur Blvd. ...

For Judith BeDell, who's looking for fresh (nonsmoked) liver sausage, Christine Geraci e-mailed to suggest Fred Usinger's in Milwaukee, which can be reached at www.usinger.com, or by calling (800) 558-9998. ...

More on frog legs: Renee Berry maintains that the best are at The Hush Puppy Restaurant, 1820 N. Nellis Blvd. (there's another location at 7185 W. Charleston Blvd.) ...

More on hot cross buns: Berry suggested Entenmann's, which she gets at Wal-Mart Supercenter. ...

And more on New York Bagel Chips: Berry said they can be found in the deli section of the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 540 Marks St. in Henderson. ...

And from reader Jim Guynup, here's a recommendation for those looking for shortcuts for holiday dinners or whenever: Pioneer Brand gravy, which comes in brown and white varieties in a stand-up container with a heat-proof handle and is available at Wal-Mart Supercenter. "After you reheat it for 60 seconds, it tastes like the real thing," he e-mailed. ...

Reader requests: John DeNiro is looking for a place that serves Italian sausage and eggs for breakfast, preferably in the southwest part of the valley. ...

Guynup is looking for bockwurst made with veal instead of pork. ...

Phyllis Bachhuber is looking for Girard's White Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing, and for natural beef casings for making sausages. ...

Dolores Sawyer is looking for Santa Maria pinto beans. ...

Christine Fuentes is looking for a local bakery that makes pretzel bread. ...

Evelyn McNerney is looking for Bick's Pickles, Canadian-style mustard pickles. ...

And Ruth Whitman (and many others) is looking for Mueller's Spaghetti.

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.