Constructor: Scott Earl

Relative problem: Easy (as soon as once more, Very straightforward)

THEME: none 

Word of the Day: MELBA toast (1D: Toast opening?) —

Melba toast is a dry, crisp and thinly sliced toast, usually served with soup and salad or topped with both melted cheese or pâté. It is called after Dame Nellie Melba, the stage identify of Australian opera singer Helen Porter Mitchell. Its identify is believed thus far from 1897, when the singer was very sick and it grew to become a staple of her weight loss program. The toast was created for her by chef and fan Auguste Escoffier, who additionally created the Peach Melba dessert for her. The resort proprietor César Ritz supposedly named it in a dialog with Escoffier.

Melba toast is made by evenly toasting slices of bread below a grill, on either side. The ensuing toast is then sliced laterally. These skinny slices are then returned to the grill with the untoasted sides in the direction of the warmth supply, leading to toast half the conventional thickness. Thus, it may be described as a thrice-baked meals (see rusk).

Melba toast can also be accessible commercially, and was at one time given to infants who had been teething as a tough meals substance on which to chew.

In France, it’s known as croûtes en dentelle. (wikipedia)

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Really liked this grid however as soon as once more the puzzle was means too straightforward. The clues did not appear to be actually attempting. There was a reputation I did not know (if the TASHA is not Yar, I’m out) (46A: Actress Smith of “Why Did I Get Married?”), however I steered round that no downside, and every thing else went in about as quick as I might learn the clues. I’m *not* getting higher at crosswords, simply to place that idea to relaxation. If something, I’m on the ONSET of my “slowing-down” part. I gave up speed-solving for probably the most half and now simply stroll via the grid … and but even at a strolling tempo I used to be performed very quickly. I will not go on in regards to the commercially-driven easing-up of problem on the NYTXW as we speak, but it surely’s positively a factor. Maybe they will at the very least reserve Saturday as a Genuinely Tough day (please?). Or else we simply proceed the gradual descent into Everyone Gets a Ribbon—A-ticket rides so far as the attention can see. I took one take a look at 1A: 1962 #1 hit that the BBC as soon as deemed “too morbid” to play and instantly thought “MONSTER MASH” and virtually as instantly thought “nicely, that is ridiculous, cannot be proper.” But then I made a decision, “eh, simply take a look at it.” And certain sufficient:

After that, the entire NW nook went down with solely the NEATO for NIFTY hiccup (not super-thrilled to truly run into NEATO afterward—it is like efficiently avoiding somebody you do not need to see after which rounding a nook and working smack into them: “Oh … hello there … I … bye!”). I attempted to make the primary stay broadcast of the House of Representatives occur on ESPNU, in order that was bizarre (it is CSPAN, in fact). Kinda wished 44A: Silly ones (GOOFS) to be GEESE besides I already had GOO- in place, so I attempted GOONS (?) for possibly a second or two. Hesitated on what phrase was gonna come after PHOTO at 62A: What a digicam emoji in an Instagram caption usually signifies (PHOTO CREDIT). I’ve now lined actually each a part of the puzzle that gave me even the slightest downside. Speed-solving me would possibly’ve set a Friday document with this one, or come shut, anyway. 

It’s too dangerous the puzzle did not make me decelerate at the very least just a little, as a result of then I would’ve gotten to essentially get that aha feeling of discovery once I received all the good things, like that incredible “I CAN’T WATCH!” / “NO SPOILERS!” pairing in the course of the grid (30A: Comment made with eyes closed, maybe / 42A: “Don’t inform me what occurs but!”). And with HATES ON because the creamy heart in between! That is such a terrific screen-watching onslaught of phrases (I assume the viewer is on the motion pictures with a good friend who has already seen the film, and so they’re watching a horror film with numerous leap scares, and she or he finally ends up hating—your inside narrative might range). There aren’t any weak components of this grid (nicely, I by no means like ETERNE, however that is only one reply). No thrown-away, phoned-in corners. Brightness all over the place you flip, from LIFETIME BAN (17A: Highest bar?)* within the north to RECENCY BIAS (58A: Inclination to prioritize new occasions over historic ones) within the south, with numerous lesser however nonetheless plenty-bright moments in between. Just tighten up the clues a bit, would you? It ought to take me greater than 5 minutes to resolve a Friday at my regular strolling tempo.