The Sunday Crossword No 3193, Sunday 13 Mar 2022

Lots of eats and drinks today

ACROSS

1   Not half handsome, newspaper employee overate (6) GORGED {GORGeous}{ED}

5   Basic epicurean concoction heaped atop moussaka's exquisite layers, primarily? (8) BECHAMEL Acrostic &lit

9   Skipping starter, meat with endless wine; amaretti and grappa at the end: heavenly dining! (8) AMBROSIA {lAMB}{ROSe}{a...tI}{g...pA}

10 Run into rowdy place to drink (6) TROUGH {T{R}OUGH}

11 Filleted bass stuffed with chopped oregano, old fruit (5,7) BLOOD ORANGES {BasS} over {OREGANO+OLD}*

13 Gull purée (4) FOOL [DD]

14 Fruit in beds after All Fools' Day (8) APRICOTS {APR 1}{COTS}

17 Diva unhappy with diet, wanting something with flavour? (8) ADDITIVE {DIVA+DIET}*

18 Flipping doctor, a large fatty block (4) LARD {DR}{A}{L}<=

20 What to serve with cheese? Best nuts not finished (5,7) CREAM CRACKER {CREAM}{CRACKERs}

23 Knocked back champagne with duck: time for fish (6) TURBOT {BRUT<=}{O}{T}

24 Fervently eyed turf where cheap booze is found (4-4) DUTY-FREE*

25 Lustier, prone to cause more satisfaction (8) HEARTIER [DD]

26 Give sustenance to naked luckless vagrant (6) SUCKLE lUCKLESs*

DOWN

2   A little luncheon meat – I'll pay (2,2) ON ME [T]

3   In speech, actor Oldman, one who's thin on top, gets a biscuit (9) GARIBALDI {(~gary)GARI}{(~baldie)BALDI}

4   Snack food hidden in cupboard is costly (6) DISCOS [T]

5   Fanatic relaxed ban restricting hot cocktail (6,9) BRANDY ALEXANDER {RELAXED+BAN}* over {RANDY} 

6   They supply food in renovated terraces (8) CATERERS*

7   A small hard growth is a squirrel's treat (5) ACORN {A}{CORN}

8   They're found in kitchen playing best reggae (3,7) EGG BEATERS*

12 Club grumble in game (4,6) WOOD GROUSE {WOOD}{GROUSE}

15 Fattening fizzy cola borne by orifice, essentially (9) CALORIFIC {COLA*}{oRIFICe}

16 Unexpectedly, Stoic bit into almondy treats (8) BISCOTTI*

19 Fish from Alaska tested (6) SKATES [T]

21 Type of ale that's light, one for the road (5) AMBER [DD]

22 Everyman getting a large repast (4) MEAL {ME}{A}{L}

Reference List

Run = R, Large = L, Time = T