LA Times Crossword 30 Oct 23, Monday

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Constructed by: Glenn Cook
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: Samin Nosrat

Themed answers each start with one of “SALT FAT ACID HEAT”, which is the name of a cookbook by SAMIN NOSRAT:

  • 33A Chef and cookbook writer whose four elements of cooking are the first words of the answers to 16-, 23-, 48-, and 56-Across : SAMIN NOSRAT
  • 16A “Push It” hip-hop trio : SALT-N-PEPA
  • 23A Mardi Gras : FAT TUESDAY
  • 48A Inclination to use biting sarcasm : ACID TONGUE
  • 56A “Feels like” figure that combines temperature and humidity : HEAT INDEX
  • Read on, or jump to …
    … a complete list of answers

    Bill’s time: 5m 31s

    Bill’s errors: 0

    Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

    Across

    1 Fancy alternative to a classic necktie : ASCOT

    An ascot is a wide tie that narrows at the neck, which these days is only really worn at weddings or part of a dress uniform. The tie takes its name from the Royal Ascot horse race at which punters still turn up in formal wear at Ascot Racecourse in England.

    9 Meat salad from Laos : LARB

    Larb is a traditional dish from Lao cuisine that is made with minced meat, fish sauce, lime juice, and various herbs and spices. It is often considered the national dish of Laos, although it is also popular in neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam. The word “larb” is derived from the Lao word “laap,” which means “to mince” or “to chop finely.”

    15 Third-longest African river : NIGER

    The principal river in western Africa is the Niger, which runs 2,600 miles through the continent. It has a boomerang shape, taking a sharp turn around the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali.

    16 “Push It” hip-hop trio : SALT-N-PEPA

    “Push It” is a 1987 song recorded by Salt-n-Pepa. Released as a B-side, the song did pretty well in the charts. It reentered the charts, and did even better about a year later after Salt-N-Pepa performed the song at Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert in London, which was televised live to about 200 million viewers.

    18 Verdi work : OPERA

    Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer, mainly of operas, who was active during the Romantic era. Equally as famous as Verdi’s operas, are arias and choruses from those operas such as “La donna è mobile” from “Rigoletto”, “The Drinking Song” from “La Traviata” and “The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves” from “Nabucco”. Verdi was a big fan of William Shakespeare and wrote three operas based on the Bard’s plays: “Macbeth”, “Otello” and “Falstaff”.

    20 Mattel game based on Crazy Eights : UNO

    The card game called Crazy Eights is named for the former military designation “Section 8”. Section 8 referred to a category of discharge from the US military, reserved for personnel deemed mentally unfit for duty.

    23 Mardi Gras : FAT TUESDAY

    “Mardi Gras” translates from French as “Fat Tuesday”, and gets its name from the practice of eating rich foods on the eve of the fasting season known as Lent. Lent starts on the next day, called Ash Wednesday.

    33 Chef and cookbook writer whose four elements of cooking are the first words of the answers to 16-, 23-, 48-, and 56-Across : SAMIN NOSRAT

    “Salt Fat Acid Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking” is a 2017 cookbook penned by chef and TV host Samin Nosrat. A best seller, it has been described as more of a reference book than a collection of recipes. Nosrat explains how to master flavor and texture using salt, fat, acid and heat, four elements that she calls the “cardinal directions” of cooking.

    37 Extinct birds : DODOS

    The dodo was a direct relative of the pigeon and the dove, although the fully-grown dodo was usually three feet tall. One of the reasons the dodo comes to mind when we think of extinction of a species, is that it disappeared not too long ago (last recorded alive in 1662) and humans were the reason for its demise. The dodo lived exclusively on the island of Mauritius and when humans arrived, we cut back the forests that were its home. We also introduced domestic animals, such as dogs and pigs, that ransacked the dodo’s nests. The dodo was deemed to be an awkward flightless bird and so the term “dodo” has come to mean a dull-witted person.

    43 2016 Summer Olympics city : RIO

    Even though the 2016 Olympic Games was a summer competition, it was held in Rio de Janeiro in winter. As Rio is in the southern hemisphere, the opening ceremony on 5th August 2016 fell in the local winter season. The 2016 games was also the first to be held in South America, and the first to be hosted by a Portuguese-speaking country.

    The US topped the medal table at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, winning 46 gold medals:

    1. United States – 46 gold medals (121 medals total)
    2. Great Britain – 27 gold medals (67 medals total)
    3. China – 26 gold medals (70 medals total)

    44 Meditation sounds : OMS

    “Om” is a sacred mystic word from the Hindu tradition. “Om” is sometimes used as a mantra, a focus for the mind in meditation.

    55 Artist’s stand : EASEL

    The term “easel” comes from an old Dutch word meaning “donkey”, would you believe? The idea is that an easel carries its load (an oil painting, say) just as a donkey would be made to carry a load.

    56 “Feels like” figure that combines temperature and humidity : HEAT INDEX

    The heat index combines air temperature and relative humidity. It is an attempt to measure the relative temperature that is actually perceived by a person. The idea is that temperatures are perceived by us as being higher if accompanied by high humidity. This is because when the humidity is high, the body finds it more difficult to cool itself by perspiring.

    60 “Basic Instinct” actress Sharon : STONE

    Actress Sharon Stone’s big break came with her appearance in the erotic thriller “Basic Instinct” released in 1992. Stone really hasn’t landed huge roles in big movies since then, other than the role of Ginger in “Casino”, for which she earned a Golden Globe. Personally I enjoyed her performance in 1994’s “The Specialist”, an entertaining action film in which she played opposite Sylvester Stallone and James Woods.

    “Basic Instinct” is a 1992 erotic thriller movie starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The film was deemed controversial in many sectors of society at the time of its release, but I will say that I like the movie. To me, “Basic Instinct” epitomizes the genre that we now call “neo-noir” …

    Down

    1 Birthplace of St. Francis : ASSISI

    The Italian town of Assisi is in Umbria. Assisi is famous as the birthplace of St. Francis and as the home to the Franciscan religious order. It was also the home to Saint Clare and her order of the Poor Sisters (later known as the Poor Clares).

    3 Choices at perfume counters : COLOGNES

    Back in 1709, an Italian perfume-maker moved to Cologne in Germany. There he invented a new fragrance that he named Eau de Cologne after his newly adopted town. The fragrance is still produced in Cologne, using a secret formulation. However, the terms “Eau de Cologne” and “cologne”, are now used generically.

    4 WWE champion Randy who had a long rivalry with John Cena : ORTON

    Randy Orton is a pro wrestler on the WWE circuit. He has wrestling in his blood, as his grandfather Bob Orton, his father Bob Orton Jr., and his uncle Barry Orton were all professional wrestlers.

    5 Low card in a royal flush : TEN

    The poker hand called a royal flush is the highest-ranking hand possible. It consists of a run of 10, jack, queen, king and ace, with all in the same suit.

    6 African scavengers whose cries sound like laughter : HYENAS

    The spotted hyena of Sub-Saharan Africa is also known as the laughing hyena because of the sound it often makes, which resembles maniacal laughter.

    9 Slimming surgeries, informally : LIPOS

    Liposuction (lipo) dates back to the 1920s when it was developed by a surgeon in France. However, the procedure quickly lost favor when a French model developed gangrene after surgery. As a result, it wasn’t until the mid-seventies that modern liposuction took off, after being popularized by two Italian-American surgeons in Rome.

    10 Meeting outline : AGENDA

    “Agenda” is a Latin word that translates as “things to be done”, coming from the verb “agere” meaning “to do”.

    12 Blended sitcom family of classic TV : BRADYS

    The famous sitcom “The Brady Bunch” originally aired from 1969 to 1974 on ABC. If you ever see a movie called “Yours, Mine and Ours” starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda (and remade with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo), you might notice a similarity in storyline. It was because of the success of the 1968 movie that ABC decided to go ahead with the development of “The Brady Bunch”.

    26 Mount Olympus dwellers, e.g. : IMMORTALS

    Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Greece. In Greek mythology, it was home to the gods, and in particular home to the principal gods known as the Twelve Olympians.

    31 Allstate’s industry: Abbr. : INS

    Allstate is the second-largest provider of personal insurance in the US, after State Farm. Allstate started doing business in 1931 as part of Sears Roebuck, and indeed I can remember when Allstate offices were located in Sears stores. Sears spun off Allstate in 1993.

    32 Foot the bill : PAY

    To foot the bill is to pay it, to pay the total at the “foot” of the bill.

    34 “American __”: rock musical based on a Green Day album : IDIOT

    Green Day is a punk rock band from just down the road here, from Berkeley, California. The band’s name was chosen by the band members to reflect their fondness for marijuana. “Green day” is a slang term used to describe a day spent smoking the drug.

    35 Twelve sharp : NOON

    Our word “noon”, meaning “midday”, comes from the Latin “nona hora” that translates as “ninth hour”. Back in ancient Rome, the “ninth hour” was three in the afternoon. Over the centuries, traditions such as church prayers and “midday” meals shifted from 3 p.m. to 12 p.m., and so “noon” became understood as 12 noon.

    39 Poseidon’s staff : TRIDENT

    Poseidon was the god of the sea in Greek mythology as well as the Earthshaker, the god responsible for earthquakes.

    49 Info, slangily : DEETS

    “Deets” is slang for “details”.

    50 Avarice : GREED

    Our word “avarice”, meaning “desire for wealth”, ultimately derives from the Latin word “avere” meaning “to crave”.

    51 Father Christmas : SANTA

    A central figure on Christmas Day is Santa Claus aka “Father Christmas”, and “Père Noël” in French.

    56 “Barry” cable network : HBO

    “Barry” is a dark comedy TV series starring Bill Hader as an Ohio hitman who questions his life of crime. Veteran actor Henry Winkler plays an award-winning supporting role as the teacher of an acting class that the hitman joins.

    /p>

    Complete List of Clues/Answers

    Across

    1 Fancy alternative to a classic necktie : ASCOT
    6 Time sheet abbr. : HRS
    9 Meat salad from Laos : LARB
    13 Shop : STORE
    14 Informal assent : YEP
    15 Third-longest African river : NIGER
    16 “Push It” hip-hop trio : SALT-N-PEPA
    18 Verdi work : OPERA
    19 “Am __ picky?” : I TOO
    20 Mattel game based on Crazy Eights : UNO
    21 Spoke monotonously : DRONED
    22 Omen : SIGN
    23 Mardi Gras : FAT TUESDAY
    25 Traveler’s stopover : INN
    26 Hypotheticals : IFS
    27 Crumb-carrying critter : ANT
    28 App annoyances : ADS
    29 Microbe : GERM
    31 Freeze over : ICE UP
    33 Chef and cookbook writer whose four elements of cooking are the first words of the answers to 16-, 23-, 48-, and 56-Across : SAMIN NOSRAT
    37 Extinct birds : DODOS
    38 Russian denial : NYET
    40 Foldable bed : COT
    43 2016 Summer Olympics city : RIO
    44 Meditation sounds : OMS
    46 Period of history : ERA
    48 Inclination to use biting sarcasm : ACID TONGUE
    51 Quick cut : SNIP
    52 Say again : REPEAT
    53 GPS suggestion : RTE
    54 Support staff member : AIDE
    55 Artist’s stand : EASEL
    56 “Feels like” figure that combines temperature and humidity : HEAT INDEX
    58 Foul moods : SNITS
    59 “I __ your pardon?” : BEG
    60 “Basic Instinct” actress Sharon : STONE
    61 IRS IDs : SSNS
    62 Poem of praise : ODE
    63 Puts a stop to : HALTS

    Down

    1 Birthplace of St. Francis : ASSISI
    2 Announcing : STATING
    3 Choices at perfume counters : COLOGNES
    4 WWE champion Randy who had a long rivalry with John Cena : ORTON
    5 Low card in a royal flush : TEN
    6 African scavengers whose cries sound like laughter : HYENAS
    7 Transplant in the greenhouse : REPOT
    8 Relaxation station : SPA
    9 Slimming surgeries, informally : LIPOS
    10 Meeting outline : AGENDA
    11 Go over again, as a contract : REREAD
    12 Blended sitcom family of classic TV : BRADYS
    15 “All sales are final” : NO RETURNS
    17 Bit of smoke : PUFF
    21 Sand formations : DUNES
    24 Snack in a shell : TACO
    26 Mount Olympus dwellers, e.g. : IMMORTALS
    30 “Awesome!” : RAD!
    31 Allstate’s industry: Abbr. : INS
    32 Foot the bill : PAY
    34 “American __”: rock musical based on a Green Day album : IDIOT
    35 Twelve sharp : NOON
    36 Many a Disney Channel star : TEEN IDOL
    39 Poseidon’s staff : TRIDENT
    40 Gentle touch : CARESS
    41 Quite a lot : OCEANS
    42 Deflects through a basketball rim : TIPS IN
    44 Electrical interruption : OUTAGE
    45 Run into : MEET
    47 Pinnacles : APEXES
    49 Info, slangily : DEETS
    50 Avarice : GREED
    51 Father Christmas : SANTA
    56 “Barry” cable network : HBO
    57 “Or so” suffix : -ISH

    12 thoughts on “LA Times Crossword 30 Oct 23, Monday”

    1. Huh. I knew SALT FAT ACID HEAT and filled those in immediately, but had no clue on the name of who wrote it and only filled that in with crosses. Despite that, it went very quickly, even for a Monday, with no errors.

    2. Never heard of SAMIN NOSRAT..

      But that didn’t stop me from finishing in about 10 minutes. No errors

    3. Another crossword aficionado who had not the slightest idea who Samin Nosrat is. I kept thinking it was the chef rat character in the animated movie “Ratatouille”.

      I also must take exception for a wrong clue in today’s WSJ daily crossword. Mike Shenk gave the clue “Doesn’t make any stopovers” for 28 Down. The answer was “Goes direct” which is entirely incorrect as only nonstop flights go without stopovers. Direct flights usually stop to let people off and to pick up new passengers on the way to their final destination. For shame, Mr. Shenk!

    4. No errors but a bit much for a Monday…Samin Noserat has been in at least one previous puzzle.
      Stay safe😀

    5. 8:48 – clean, but not fun. Thought a bit easy for a Monday, should’ve done better, getting old …

      Only knew SALTNPEPA (God only knows why …).

      Stuff like Samin Noserat really turned me off. Do constructors really have to go that far left to make a puzzle more difficult/interesting? yeesshhh …

      Be Well.

    6. 9:05 – no errors or lookups. False starts: NOREFUNDS>NORETURNS, TAPSIN>TIPSIN.

      New or forgotten: LARB, “Push It,” SAMIN NOSRAT (except that all the intersections had to be correct, I still wasn’t sure this was correct until I confirmed it after finishing the puzzle), Randy ORTON, “American IDIOT.”

      Re: the puzzle theme – and the four food groups are salt, fat, sugar, and caffeine! Just kidding, of course.

    7. Samin Nosrat is not “far left” or obscure . . . if you’ve “ever heard of her”. If you’re a foodie like me, watch her special on Netflix. I think the title is actually “Salt Fat Acid Heat”. (I think it’s still available.)

    8. Slightly obscure Monday for me; took 11:50 with no peeks or errors. Didn’t really work with the theme as I had no idea who Samin Nosrat is, although I do now. Also, no idea on: LARB, SALT-N-PEPA (although I’ve heard of them), ORTON and HBO. Made a few wrong guesses on some of the other clues and had to fix those as well.

      Agree with Tony – I also put in GO NONSTOP at first.

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