Constructor: Adrian Johnson
Relative issue: Straightforward-Medium
THEME: none
Phrase of the Day: LOMO saltado (8D: ___ saltado (conventional Peruvian dish)) —
Lomo saltado is a well-liked, conventional Peruvian dish, a stir fry that usually combines marinated strips of sirloin (or different beef steak) with onions, tomatoes, french fries, and different substances; and is usually served with rice. The dish originated as a part of the chifa custom, the Chinese language delicacies of Peru, although its reputation has made it a part of the mainstream tradition. […] The dish is often ready by marinating sirloin strips in vinegar, soy sauce, and spices, then stir frying these with crimson onions, parsley, tomatoes, and presumably different substances. The usage of each potatoes (which originated in Peru) and rice (which originated in Asia) as starches is typical of the cultural mixing that the dish represents. // In his 2013 article within the Huffington Publish UK, British-Peruvian chef Martin Morales referred to as lomo saltado “considered one of Peru’s most beloved dishes” and mentioned that this dish “reveals the wealthy fusion of previous and new worlds. This juicy combination of beef, onions, tomatoes, aji Amarillo paste and soy sauce sauteed in a big pan (or wok) is among the many contributions Chinese language immigration delivered to Peru.” He explains, “Lomo Saltado is typically generally known as a Criollo dish however extra generally known as a Peruvian-Chinese language dish; a favorite chifa dish. These are its true roots”. (wikipedia)
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Just a little heavy on the modern popular culture trivia for my tastes, however the longer stuff was so good (and so prevalent) that every one the brief (principally) actor and singer names ended up being mere gnatlike annoyances somewhat than actual puzzle-ruiners. I simply DEEP SIGHed my manner via them and tried to focus as a substitute on the actually good things like DEEP SIGH (35D: [What is it this time?!]) and HEAD SLAP (41A: [Oy!]) and AND WHAT NOT and what not (25D: “… plus all the remaining”). JUST A SEC is fairly strange stuff, however the whole lot else of eight letters and longer on this puzzle is a minimum of good, if not excellent or wonderful. The SOVIET BLOC bloc within the NW reads nice from high to backside, as does the CARBO LOADS brief stack within the SE—each ten-letter Throughout in these two quadrants, simply easy as hell. And please, no complaints about not understanding AYO EDEBIRI. What number of occasions has she been within the grid by now? (Heaps—simply this previous Tuesday, in actual fact). Hers is the one popular culture title within the puzzle I truly welcomed, as I do not assume I’ve seen her get the full-name remedy earlier than (she’s all the time AYO—4 occasions this yr already—however earlier than at this time, her final title has solely ever appeared in clues, by no means the grid itself). I didn’t spell her final title appropriately at first cross, however I used to be rattling shut (went with EDIBIRI as a substitute of EDEBIRI). Felt good to really feel like I had her title (nearly) effectively and actually below my belt (solely lately received there with UZO ADUBA—one other award-winning TV actor—and I’ve had manner longer with that title).
I like HIDDEN STAIRCASE (34A: Passage in a thriller novel?), and I like how HIDDEN STAIRCASE is doing the alternative of hiding, i.e. hanging out within the lifeless middle of the puzzle. I am now imagining a HIDDEN STAIRCASE-themed puzzle the place HIDDEN STAIRCASE is the revealer and likewise “HIDDEN STAIRCASE” may be discovered within the grid on the diagonal, from SW to NE (or NW to SE, works both manner). You may clue the revealer as [There’s one of these in this puzzle], one thing like that. Though I suppose there could be two … although solely considered one of them could be actually “hidden.” Anyway, as a result of it is a 15, you might put that revealer wherever, on any row, and it might work with the diagonal model of itself. No circled squares that can assist you see the diagonal HIDDEN STAIRCASE, although—that might negate the entire “hidden” half. Possibly you might additionally work SPIRAL STAIRCASE in there, and that one *may* have circled squares. Sorry … these are the concepts you normally simply scratch in your pocket book after which by no means present anybody as a result of they’re insane. The Level Is: HIDDEN STAIRCASE, good reply.
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| [Got my Fun City Editions Blu-Ray of this John Sayles movie (1983), with this decorative slipcase, in the mail the other day; exciting (to me)] |
- 16A: Sch. that joined the Massive Ten in 2024 (UCLA) — talking of “after I was a child,” if you happen to had instructed 12yo me that UCLA would someday be within the Massive Ten I might’ve mentioned “you soiled liar” after which whenever you confirmed me proof from a future newspaper, which you’d have in your telephone as a result of newspapers do not exist anymore, after I got here to after having handed out from seeing your telephone, I might’ve boooooooed this new faculty sports activities growth. In my day (!) the Massive Ten was simply higher midwest colleges and UCLA was within the Pac-Ten, which was all west coast colleges, and people two conferences *fought one another* yearly within the Rose Bowl. It made sense. Now it is only a mishmash of rubbish bowls and gerrymandered conferences with no regional character by any means. There are 18 groups within the Massive Ten. Phrases, what do they imply, do they imply issues?
- 4D: “Preventing” Massive Ten crew (ILLINI) — O.G. Massive Ten crew (joined 1896 … 128 years earlier than UCLA joined).
- 55A: Wyndham different (OMNI) — the “different” in an OMNI clue is normally “Hyatt” (7 occasions) or “Marriott” (6). That is solely the second use of “Wyndham” in an OMNI clue. That is maybe the least consequential or attention-grabbing statistic I’ve ever cited.
- 1D: She “discovered” Arabic in December 2015 (SIRI) — go forward and put scare quotes round “She,” too. Please.
- 7D: Ran via some laundry, say (BLED) — as a result of laundry is (notoriously) sharp, so whenever you run via it, you narrow your toes and so they bleed.
- 36D: Inform-all Reddit sesh (AMA) — do not love SESH within the grid and, it seems, do not like it within the clues any higher.
- 42D: “My baby is on the respect roll” and others (DECALS) — oof, improper on two counts. Initially, the “decal” would say “My baby is on the respect roll at [such and such a school]”—simply saying “My baby is on the respect roll” by itself could be a bizarre factor to promote by way of “decal.” Second of all, the time period is “bumper sticker”; you solely ever see this message on bumper stickers. Belongings you put in your automotive are bumper stickers. I do not know the place you stick decals, however “My baby and so forth.” messages go on bumper stickers. Completely.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
