Whoever said that Whole Foods has tamarind paste is correct; that's where I found it. Though come to think of it, the product I got was too sweet and jammy, not near sour enough -- I think an Asian market might be a better bet.

You know, Bill, it's suddenly occurred to me that maybe I ought to send the URL for this thread to, say, Alton Brown at the Food Network. I think people coming together this way online to try to recapture a lost "American Icon," as you so accurately put it, would make an interesting story.

What do you think? Too much potential publicity for the Cat, or should I do it?

Claire