Dear Carol;- Since no one has jumped forward claiming to have a rice paste wentletrap or any other shells made of that ingredient, you may be right asserting that they did not exist. We'll use this venue to ask the question of the week: Has anyone out there ever seen the legendary rice-paste shells? Question Man ps: THE Book: It is in the hands of the publisher, Maria Angioy of La Conchiglia. When she tells me----I'll tell everyone.