Today’s challenging puzzle from Rongo set all this off by diverting me onto a culinary tangent (for which apologies). Several long clues were hold ups and then there’s the 1ac/1dn pair which were my final hurdle. Chock full of tasty clues, it took 12 minutes to enjoy and rather more to digest how the ingredients all came together. Here are my notes in the margins of the recipe book – don’t miss la pièce de résistance at 15dn.
1. BESTIARY – animal book – a moralizing medieval collection of descriptions (and often illustrations) of real and mythical animals. Our first Michelin starred difficulty clue – take one ‘It’s’ and turn backwards (STI), fold into ursine creature (BEAR) and garnish with an unknown in maths (Y). Master chef here we come. If I’d have known bestiary or ursine this would have been a ‘piece of cake’.
5. AWED – in a state of wonderment, (A)nglicans, marry (WED).
8. SNOUT – muzzle. Tin (SN), not fashionable (OUT).
9. PRECISE – accurately detailed. Anagram (exotic) of RECIPES.
11. TERRESTRIAL – connected to land. The English river in question is the TEES and test is TRIAL which ‘keep’ (contain) both sides of river – (R)ive(R).
13. AGENCY – one that supplies temps? (A)ilin(G) (E)uropea(N) (C)ompan(Y).
14. CARTON – box. Farm vehicle (CART) attached to (ON).
16. DUPLICITOUS – deceitful. Northern Ireland party (DUP), allowed (LICIT), contents of house – h(OUS)e.
18. AIRHEAD – one who’s simple minded. Broadcast (AIR), boss (HEAD).
19. AWAIT – expect. Homophone (to be announced) of an ounce, say – A WEIGHT.
20. LADY – peeress. Boy (LAD) with yen (Y).
21. KNEE-DEEP – flooded above calf height? Require (NEED) to enter (so put inside) hold (KEEP).
DOWN
1. BASH – triple definition (what a fine dish to set before the king). Excellent clue which did cause a delay. Attempt (have a bash at), to criticise (bash/lambast), party (office bash).
2. SHORT-TEMPERED – irascible. Anagram (strangely) of STEPMOTHER followed by embarrassed (RED).
3. INTERACTIVE – responding to input. Bury (INTER), law (ACT), I have – I’ve (IVE).
4. RAPIER – sword. Anagram (poor) of REPAIR.
6. WHIP INTO SHAPE – vigorously train. Continuing our culinary journey here’s a cryptic word play – to prepare egg whites for meringues.
Tip 4 large egg whites into a large clean mixing bowl. Beat them on medium speed with an electric hand whisk until the mixture resembles a fluffy cloud and stands up in stiff peaks when the blades are lifted. (Thank you BBC).
7. DWELLING – house. Democrat (D) experiencing an upward surge (WELLING).
10. EXTRAPOLATE – to make projections. Additional (EXTRA), put circular shape (O) inside dish (PLATE).
12. HANDRAIL – support for unsteady walker. Feel unwell (AIL) is put after all the rest – hospital (H), a (A), new (N), doctor (DR).
15. HIDDEN – concealed. Great cooking doesn’t have to be complex but can, like this COD, be simple yet elegant. Depending on your taste – like an oyster nestling in its shell or jam lurking in a doughnut – this HIDDEN clue is carefully concealed in part of orc(HID DEN)ied.
17. STOP – prevent. Anagram (getting broken) of POST.
I was most amused by the hidden ‘hidden’ – but it has probably been used before, like most great cryptic puzzle ideas.
I only knew BESTIARY due to the Bestiary of Flanders and Swann, where Hippopotami, Gnus and others appeared.
Had trouble parsing 11a at first since I assumed the English river was the Test, which makes various other bits not work at all.
I just realized that my time is less than two Verlaine’s, which I can’t remember happening before.
Edited at 2018-05-15 03:25 am (UTC)
Trying to shoehorn trent in 11a didn’t help. And only parsed post submission.
Dnk the animal book, and took a while to remember ursine, before then it was a toss up between bestiary and bostiary.
COD knee deep.
Edited at 2018-05-15 05:45 am (UTC)
Before I read Paul’s comment above I was already intending to mention the Flanders and Swann ‘Bestiary’ as the source of my knowedge of the word at 1ac, however it may be of interest (and in order to avoid disappointment to note) that it doesn’t include their two most famous creatures, the Hippopotamus and the Gnu as they had already been recorded elsewhere. But here’s what’s in their zoo: Warthog, Sea Horse, Chameleon, Whale, Sloth, Rhinoceros, Jaguar, Kangaroo, Dead Ducks, Elephant, Armadillo, Spider, Duck Billed Platypus, Humming Bird, Portugese Man O’War, Wild Boar, Ostrich, Wompom. Don’t worry about the last one- it’s made-up!
Edited at 2018-05-15 04:43 am (UTC)
This would have been totally beyond me before I started doing the QC. So in the manner of a tear-stained Oscar winner thanking their hairdresser, I want to thank (actually I really do want to thank) all the bloggers on here for patiently sharing their knowledge with hoi polloi, day after day, teaching us the tricks of the trade and the wiles of the setter. Yesterday was imperical proof that the QC can be a gateway drug for the 15 x 15.
Oh yes, today’s QC. Loved it, favourite clue AGENCY, LOI AIRHEAD, less than three Kevins. Thanks Rongo and Chris.
Templar
I started cryptics on commuter trains too (back in a different life) – ideal training grounds as it helps to avoid all eye contact and, in order to avoid listening to people discussing their latest dental treatments, promotes fierce concentration. Well done.
Edited at 2018-05-15 07:52 am (UTC)
I too liked the hidden Hidden. My LOI was 11a where I struggled to see what was needed; clever clue which gets my COD. David
PS I also tried yesterday’s 15×15. I got quite a lot of it but was nowhere near finishing it, so well done to any QCers who managed it.
End of soapbox.
Paulw
Thanks Chris for helping me check the parsing of 11A. All in all, quite pleased with myself, considering my cracking champagne hangover!
Thanks for the blog
Many thanks.