Sunday 25 May 2014

No 2792, Sunday 25 May 2014


ACROSS
1   Complaint made by Master of Arts, woman (6) MALADY {MA}{LADY}
4   Twist almost all of the backbone (6) SPINAL {SPIN}{ALl}
9   Notice embassy's entrance (9) ADMISSION {AD}{MISSION}
11 A Parisian, one working for Equity, perhaps (5) UNION {UN}{1}{ON}
12 Jockey's attacker article cleared (5) RIDER RaIDER
13 Mediocre, 12 that failed (5-4) THIRD-RATE {RIDER+THAT}*
14 I'm career chef that's prepared topping (5,7) CREME FRAICHE*
18 Valiant, began carrying out high explosive (12) STOUTHEARTED {ST{OU}{HE}ARTED}
21 Find out when positive (9) ASCERTAIN {AS}{CERTAIN}
23 Wild dog shot following row (5) DINGO {DIN}{GO}
24 Top-class player, last to play, sickly (5) SEEDY {SEED}{Y}
25 CND includes even a past president (9) CLEVELAND {C{LEVEL}{A}ND}
26 Pointer in joint with no lead, led off (6) NEEDLE {kNEE}{LED*}
27 Celebrity impressing you, one having stamina (6) STAYER {STA{YE}R}

DOWN
1   Thin, a Guides' leader plunging into lake (6) MEAGRE {ME{A}{G}RE}
2   Priest entertaining Bachelor of Divinity, a Greek character (6) LAMBDA {LAM{BD}A}
3   Soldier and sailor turned up after leave (6,3) DESERT RAT {DESERT} {RAT<=}
5   Poet's pen (5) POUND [DD]
6   Pest is hidden by shade (8) NUISANCE {NU{IS}ANCE}
7   Led across Niger, struggling - hung on (8) LINGERED {L{NIGER*}ED}
8   Lack of interest in controversy (12) INDIFFERENCE {IN}{DIFFERENCE}
10 Camp internee beaten for drunkenness (12) INTEMPERANCE*
15 Get better soldiers in a time for change (9) AMENDMENT {A}{MEND}{MEN}{T}
16 I kill two turkeys at home (8) ASSASSIN {ASS}{ASS}{IN}
17 Specific Cape on Mediterranean island (8) CONCRETE {C}{ON}{CRETE}
19 Popular female, girl of ill repute (6) INFAMY {IN}{F}{AMY}
20 Bird in apartment close to river (6) CONDOR {CONDO}{R}
22 Member of monarchy runs old American university? Not quite (5) ROYAL {R}{O}{YALe}

55 comments:

  1. Special at 10:30 by Raju Umamaheshwar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We eagerly look forward to this veteran among solvers setting his own cryptic.

      Delete
  2. For A Taste of India

    Passages in British novels often have names of dishes (though they may be in French).
    In this regard I remember Ian Fleming novels.

    I wish to include terms of some Indian dishes in a crossword.

    My wife's favourite is Ennai kathrikkai. But I am not sure if this is acceptable.

    Give me terms that are universally well-known throughout India in a spelling that is undisputed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Masala Dosa
      Idli
      Sambar
      Rasam

      Delete
    2. appalam
      vada
      murukku
      aviyal

      Delete
    3. Mutton Rogan Josh
      Double ka Meetha
      Kulfi
      Dahi Vada
      Paani Puri
      Chana Bhatura
      Uthappam

      Delete
    4. OMG! Mouth-watering!

      Sorry. That was not the name of any dish. ;-)

      Delete
    5. Raju and Sapna will like this:

      When I worked in Coorg, a few of us sat in a restaurant and were working out our order. A Coorgi friend said Naak(u) bonDa, meaning to say he did not want anything.

      The server promptly brought four bonDas.

      Delete
  3. Coincidence : Today's 1 Across clue reminds me of Yesterday's "10 Married a woman having a complaint (6) MALADY {M}{A}{LADY} by Gridman !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was about to post the same thing. Great minds...

      Delete
    2. Think alike includes me!!

      Delete
  4. Scholar loads as a cooked spicy dish is here (6,4)

    - The above clue was in THC 10576, clued to fulfil a reader's wish.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Minoo Vania, a retired IAF officer, has written about his first encounter with dosa at the Bombay Anand Bhavan on Big Bazaar Street, Coimbatore and how he bacame addicted to it, so much so that he now treats his family and friends to crisp and hot dosas he makes at home using “maavu” is from Pazahmudir.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Note: Any dish name suggested must be recognisable in any part of India.

    If I go to a restaurant in north India and ask for morkozhambu, the waiter will say 'what?'. But paani puri is OK as much in the south as in the north - or wherever it originated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. May not be. While in Mumbai, they call it pani-puri, in Delhi it is recognised as Golgappa.

      Delete
    2. So who will prepare a list of some dishes that are known throughout India?

      Also, they had better be a little exotic instead of the mundane idli, vada, dosa and bonda. The Col's list is promising!

      Delete
    3. Here are some, not in alpha order:
      pongal, puri, dhokla, kulfi, tikki, pav bhaji, bhel, shrikhand, halwa, biryani, chole-bhature, paratha, lassi, malai kofta, tandoori roti (or chicken), pakora.

      Delete
    4. On Gol Guppa/Pani Puri, here is the discussion on this subject in this Blog in 2010:

      The GOL GAPPA has regional variants - in Delhi the maida puris are more popular, while in Bihar/Bengal the atta ones are preferred. The 'paani' and other fillings differ too - Bihar/Bengal use aloo and a tamarind-based pani at room temperature. In Delhi, the pani is mint-based, with boondi, and is often chilled. In Mumbai, they sometimes put in slightly warm chhole into the poori.

      My Bengali friends, when they crave the snack, drive all the way from Gurgaon to Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi. That's the only place to get "authentic" (i.e. Bengal-style) gol gappas, they say.

      31A - I am sure there will be a few comments on this. Somehow, I could guess GOL GAPPA at once with the help of L,G and PAPA. It was a familiar word for me, but never knew it was just another name in vogue in northern India for Pani Puri, which I have been savouring for ages. I am told it is known as Bataashaa or Gup Chup in some other states and Phuchka in Bengali. Mouth-watering !
      I too have only heard the term gol gappa without really knowing what this dish was actually.

      My wife came into the room just as I was looking at the photo. Which I couldn't really make out. The things looked like tender coconuts!

      I asked her what gol gappa was and she, a gourmand that she is, immediately went into raptures. Born and raised in Calcutta, she is often heard to use the term phuchka.



      Dan said...
      Never heard of Gol Gappa. Kinda looks interesting. Oughta try it sometime.

      March 4, 2010 10:19 AM


      Deepak Gopinath said...
      GOL GAPPA is one of the standard snacks at any Chaat shop, it is more popularly known as PANI-PURI in areas other than the North

      Delete
    5. Some more discussion on the Chaat:

      March 4, 2010 11:38 AM

      Deepak Gopinath said...
      I am a regular at the chaatwala in Gopinath Bazaar in Delhi Cantt whenever I pass through Delhi.
      I remember going with my parents to a chaatwala in some bazaar (I forget the name) in Lucknow in the mid 50's when I was just 5, the chaatwala who use to operate from a cart was known as 'The King of Chaats, we used to carry our own plates and spoons and line up awaiting our turn to get at the delicacies (Yummmieeee) he used to churn out.

      March 4, 2010 11:51 AM

      Deepak Gopinath said...
      As an aside to that, I am reminded of the Kulfi guy in Mhow where the army has a huge training establishment, in the 50's when I was there with my parents this guy used to come around in a push cart at nights when we all would be sleeping in the open to beat the heat under mosquito nets of course, when I last went to Mhow in 1995 he used to go around on a scooter with the matka carrying the kulfi, he purposely goes around just after luchtime, tooting his scooter horn, knowing that everyone will come out to eat one to beat the heat. Anyone visitng Mhow, this guys Kulfi's are a must. He also has a shop in the market nowadays. I presume he must be going aroung in a minivan now to sell his wares!!

      March 4, 2010 12:06 PM


      Dr said...
      The "GUPPA" on GOL GAPPA was indeed Refreshing

      Delete
  7. The last line should read, 'using “maavu” from Pazhamudir" (The Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam is a Fruits and Vegetable Retailer).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No longer just fruits and vegetable, it's a supermarket now

      Delete
  8. Richard's Kodagu story reminded me of joint at BC Road, which I am sure he has noticed. It is called Chikori, a portmanteau between chick and kori, both meaning chicken in two different languages, English and Tulu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A couple of years back, in response to Gridman's use of Robusta in a grid, Richard had narrated an interesting episode from his early years as a banker - Idu Arabica? Alla, Robusta.

      Delete
    2. The bar attached Chikori restaurant was 'Mughal Bar'. In fact it had no inference to the dynasty, but was a tongue-in-cheek take on being tipsy.

      Tipsy condition is humorously referred to in Tulu as 'Mugaal' - meaning 'cloudy' - an outlook of overcast.

      I found both names creative and innovative.

      Delete
  9. Naan and roti with raita and curry are already on the fare. Sweets like jamoon/jamun, laddoo can be served with sherbet

    ReplyDelete
  10. KISMIS PULAO (beware of the spelling!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much like Rajinikant sayinf "Yes kiss me" for "Excuse me"

      Delete
  11. You guys are making me feel hungry already, a sumptuous Sunday breakfast apart...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Need to be really STOUTHEARTED to resist the CREME FRAICHE and all the other goodies listed above

      Delete
    2. Crossed the T in stouthearted (the first one at least). Because Deepak is a stickler for form! Just a typo for correction

      Delete
  12. Usually Sunday puzzles attract little attention. Today the fare is rather mouth-watering. I am getting primed for a hearty lunch ...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nothing exciting but some clues from Gridman's dB:

    Fellow and Super consuming tea with Indian bread (7)
    Indian bread for the fellow at deli at last (7)
    Girl consumes a bread (4)
    In all probability Enid likes South Indian breakfast dish (4)
    Vada doled out by one in a Chennai suburb (5)
    Never such a dosa is a Mangalorean speciality! (4)
    They are prescribed by doctors to saints after work (7)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CHAP A(T)1
      CHAP AT I
      NA(A)N
      IDLI (T)
      (AVAD*)(I)
      NE'ER
      {DO}{SAGES}

      Delete
  14. Adding some more dishes

    Shrikand
    Puranpoli or Boli
    Kaju Katli
    Sandesh (from Didi's land)
    Egg Bhujiya
    Dum Biriyani

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was wondering what 'Dum' has to do with Biriyani and on enquiry was told that it is cooked (steamed) as a whole after mixing all ingredients. I am still not sure and would like clarification from expert chefs/ connoisseurs.

      Delete
  15. Take care to add a few inches around the middle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 10.26 is in response to Kishore's 10.18

      Delete
  16. Milagu rasam,
    Raita,
    Potato bonda,
    Poori

    ReplyDelete
  17. 20 Down Condor - There is a Biggles' book - The Cruise of the Condor'. In this, Biggles and Algy name the amphibious plane they use in Brazil as Condor. Biggles is also attacked by a King Condor in this story.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looking forward to raju's offering- is it one of his mega?

    ReplyDelete
  19. My friend from Tirunelveli oftentimes brings me the "Dumadai" sweet from Kayalpattinam My daughter wanted this sweet to be sent to her to US, but due to heavy
    rain a few days back, it could not be prepared. Instead he brought the "Perattadai" which is somewhat similar. Incidentally the only authentic place to buy the Tirunelveli Halwa is the Iruttukkadi shop opposite to the Nelliappar Temple.

    ReplyDelete
  20. http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/in-search-of-tirunelveli-halwa/article4418778.ece

    ReplyDelete
  21. My addition to the yummy list : Bhel, nothing to do with Bharat Heavy Electrical Industries !) In Bombay, Matunga's Parsi Colony, Five Gardens, a theeka Bhel that would scald one's tongue could only be assuaged by a cold Kesar Kulfi, only after 9pm, that would be sold right out of a matka in moulds of phallic shape !

    Again, I can never forget the Misal ( a North Kanara Bhel?) and Pao usal, tangy and hot of garlic savour served in steel plates in Shivaji Park in Bombay restaurants owned by konkani speaking owners. Dil will always mange more !! due to their usual measly servings !
    In Resham Bhavan Tea Center , near Churchgate Rly station, their ubiquitous and unique UPMA was my favourite.

    CV: YOU have succeeded in whetting the appetites of everyone away from the usual and the Special Sunday Crossie fare !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raju
      It so happened that the blog on today's regular crossword had a delicacy and the idea struck me - to invite friends to suggest Indian dishes.
      However, I am not guilty of diverting attention from the Sun Spl CWD.
      First, note that my Comment and most of those that followed were well before 10-30 a.m.
      Second, after the Sun Spl is up, that will appear on top when one comes to the Col's blog - so there is no question of anyone not being able to see it and take part in it if they so wished.
      If the Sun Spl did not attract quick participation and did not end in completion in time. the reasons must lie elsewhere.

      Delete
  22. One last addition which no one had put in: The South Indian version of Pizza or a hybrid of dosa and adai--- Uthappam ! Strangely and amusingly, Sapna's paternal uncle is called Uthapa !!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Masala Dosa:

    Lo! As mad as a cooked South Indian delicacy (6,4)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Heart goes crazy for Indian food (4,5)

    ReplyDelete

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