Readers know who’s got the kishka

When a food inspires a song, you know it's special -- to somebody.

And so it is with kishke or kishka, which prompted the polka recorded by Frankie Yankovic in the early '60s and which is being sought -- the food, not the song -- by reader Dean B. Pomerantz.

The root of the word refers to "gut," or sausage casing to you and me. When it's kishke it's Jewish, a kosher beef intestine usually stuffed with matzo meal; kishka is an Eastern European blood sausage. And readers found both. Marv Unell e-mailed that kishke can be found in the kosher section of Albertsons at 2910 Bicentennial Parkway in Henderson, and Teddie Burnett and Irena Haag found kishka at the Polish Deli, 5900 W. Charleston Blvd. ...

For Roger Armstrong, who's looking for canned cabbage rolls, Pomerantz suggested the International Marketplace, 5000 S. Decatur Blvd., adding that the market carries one type stuffed with rice and currants, another (in jars) that are brined like sauerkraut, and even whole pickled heads of cabbage if Armstrong "wants to roll his own." ...

For Keith Evans, who is looking for Chilean or Argentine empanadas, Eric Weingarten suggested the variety of "excellent" empanadas at Rincon de Buenos Aires, 5300 Spring Mountain Road. ...

More on greasy bar burgers (but in a good way): Haag recommended the half-pound steakburger at The Dispensary Lounge, 2451 E. Tropicana Blvd. ...

Reader requests: Bill Creelman is looking for "real" English fish and chips. ...

Judy Wyles is looking for Wolf brand canned chili. ...

Don Marsala is looking for a mix to make corn dogs at home -- or reader suggestions for the best cornbread mix to use. ...

Diane Clarke is looking for Godiva Belgian Dark Chocolate ice cream, which she used to get at Smith's and Albertsons. ...

Toni Pricer would like to find ladyfingers and chimayo chili powder. ...

Connie Webb is looking for Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup. ...

Krissy Richards is looking for Beaver Brand Coney Island Mustard. ...

Barb Goodwin is looking for Rose's Smoked Pork Shoulder Butt, which she used to get at Smith's. ...

Mary McSorley is looking for Otis Spunkmeyer frozen cookie dough and Mars candy bars. ...

Goldie and Benson Saffer are looking for a restaurant that serves "old-fashioned" waffles -- the thin ones, with four square sections -- and Italiano Bread with sesame seeds, by Interstate Baking. ...

Judy Saepoff is looking for Minor's Chicken Base by Nestle Food Service, which comes in 1-pound tubs. ...

Susan Bear is looking for fat-free Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing. ...

Jim Perine is looking for black walnut ice cream. ...

Patricia Larson is looking for Hershey's Milk Chocolate Fudge Sauce. ...

And David and Patti Bourgeois are looking for Mississippi Mud Beer by Mississippi Brewing Co., Vlasic Hot Dog Relish and Sanders Long John Coffee Cake.

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.