The Sunday Crossword No 3296, Sunday 03 Mar 2024

ACROSS

7   Note you'll hear: warmer Mexican fare (6) FAJITA {FA}{(~heater)JITA}

8   I'm persuasive. Like a milkshake? (8) SMOOTHIE [DD]

9   Cryptic clue for wolf – or pheasant, perhaps (8) WILDFOWL {WOLF}* [RA]

10 Meal measures up perfectly? To some extent (6) SUPPER [T]

11 In Korean capital, lacking energy, scoff seeing sweet potato pie, etc (4,4) SOUL FOOD {SeOUL} {FOOD}

12 Singular hawker, we're told, dined – but not at home (3,3) ATE OUT (~a tout)

13 Old French president concealing origins of affaire involving starlet: sauce! (11) HOLLANDAISE {HOLLAND{Af...e}{In...g}{St...t}E}

18 With teetotaller absent, brunette prepared something with rye (6) REUBEN BRUNEttE*

20 Clown to stagger back: source of clip-clop sounds? (8) COCONUTS {COCO}{STUN<=}

22 Put lid on whisky (6) SCOTCH [DD]

23 Everyman 'a hilarious person', did you say? That's ... sweet (3,5) ICE CREAM (~ I scream)

24 Good job that's how some like their steak (4,4) WELL DONE [DD]

25 Northern Europeans' roots (6) SWEDES [DD]

DOWN

1   Some paratha, ricotta and a kind of bean (7) HARICOT [T]

2   Rice and this curry can be arranged for Leonardo da Vinci! (8) VINDALOO {VINDALOO+RICE+AND}* = LEONARDO DA VINCI [CA] Semi&lit

3   Booze; aroma: roses – or latterly, oak, primarily? (6) BAROLO Acrostic &lit

4   Mostly chocolatey dessert? In other words ... it includes lamb (8) MOUSSAKA {MOUSSe}{AKA}

5   Form an attachment to rice, perhaps (6) STAPLE [DD]

6   Languish with idiot having assembled something for pasta sauce (4,3) PINE NUT {PINE}{NUT}

8   I sailed oceans meandering to find Riviera speciality (6,7) SALADE NICOISE*

14 Initially lacking punch (initially lacking): long time to get something to eat (8) LUNCHEON {La...g}{pUNCH}{EON}

15 Not finishing various starters of Italian endives, dressed like some tomatoes (3-5) SUN-DRIED {SUNDRy}{It...n}{En...s}{Dr...d}

16 Attractive people that are often fuzzy and usually stoned (7) PEACHES [DD]

17 Ship that may contain broccoli (7) STEAMER [DD]

19 Grit that's used for storing wine (6) BOTTLE [DD]

21 Characteristic of Leicester ...? How to characterise some grins? (6) CHEESY [DD]

Reference List

Note = FA, Energy = E, Teetotaller = TT, In other words = AKA