Specialty Food Supplies, Part I It's tough, sometimes, trying to find special supplies for ethnic goodies. Some of the ethnic recipes call for items that are not always stocked at your local supermarket. That's where specialty foods stores come in. Yet, the problem with buying by mail is that one isn't always able to assure oneself of the quality of the product. I deal with a few houses only - but their products are always superb, and so is their service. Of all of them, my favorite is G. B. RATTO, International Grocers since 1897. 821 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607. 800-228-3515. Just a few of the huge number of rare items: Someone mentioned anchovy stuffed olives here. They have them. Dozens of specialty salamis, from Hungarian through SAAGS Swiss Salami to Danish, German and Thueringer. Truffle, black, white and whole. And Truffle produ#ts. Mushrooms, from Porcini/Cepes t/ truffled mushrooms, dried Morels, Champgnons Forestiers, Chanterelles. A dozen different ethnic mustards, tomatoes, and garlick products. Indo-Asian foods from here to there, including Pappadums, shiitake mushrooms, poonjiaji chutneys, hoisin sauces, black beensauces, fish sauces, curry sauces, Indian pickles, and God alone knows what else. There's a seafood shelf, a sauce shelf, an international pantry, (where you can even get Parmigiano Reggiano!), specialties from the British Isles, Spain, France, herbs and spices by the dozen, special pastas and pasta accompaniments, a whole range of oils and vinegars, exotic grains and rices from bulghur wheat to quinoa (keen-wa). And all the prosaic rices from Alcazaba to wild rice. Brown Basmati is a specialty, from Thailand. And for sushi lovers, sushi rice. Anasazi beans to french navy beans and cranberry beans, blue cornmeal and blue polenta, potato mixes and European garden seeds. Baking goods and books, sourdough starters, chocolate specialties, chilis, nuts, dried fruits, syrups and extracts, exotic coffees and teas, from English breakfast tea to Russian and Persian Caravans, or loose Russian and Yerba Mate. Even English Ty-Phoo. Preserves, preserves, and more preserves. Confections, Kitchenwares and books. Phone and Fax...Continental US Phone: 800-325-3483 California only: 800-228-3515 Fax...415-836-2250 (END)