June 20, 2021

Title: NICE CATCH

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers: 

ORGANIC EGG (17A: Item in a USDA-labeled carton)

DANGER THIN ICE (36A: Sign near a pond in winter)

BIONIC EYES (59A: Visual prostheses)

Theme synopsis: The word NICE has been caught by each theme answer, and appears with the letters of the word split across two of the words in the entry.

Things I learned:

• DAL (42A: Chana ___ (chickpea dish)) Chana dal are split chickpeas; the outer layer of the chickpeas is removed and the chickpeas are split. Chana dal is often used to make soups and curries.
• LEEK (58A: Vegetable related to the negi) The LEEK and the negi are both in the genus Allium. The edible part of a LEEK is a bundle of leaf sheaths; the taste is similar to a mild onion. (This I knew.) Its relative, negi, also sometimes referred to as Japanese negi, is a different species of the Allium genus. It is used in miso soup and other dishes. (This I learned.)
• HORROR (2D: "Train to Busan" genre) Train to Busan is a 2016 South Korean HORROR movie about a chemical leak at a biotech plant and the zombie apocalypse that ensues.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ARO (20A: Experiencing little or no romantic attraction, for short) ARO is short for aromantic, a term used to describe a person that does not feel romantic attraction.
• ANTI (22A: ___-inflammatory foods) According to Harvard Health, ANTI-inflammatory foods include tomatoes, olive oil, spinach, almonds, salmon, strawberries, and blueberries. These and other ANTI-inflammatory foods may be helpful in preventing some chronic diseases.
• DOSA (40A: Pancake with a rava variety) A DOSA is a thin pancake in South Indian cuisine made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice. Rava DOSA is made using semolina flour, resulting in a crispier pancake. 
• LIU (41A: Simu who plays Shang-Chi) Simu LIU plays the title character in the upcoming Marvel Studios movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He previously played the role of Jung Kim on Kim's Convenience, a TV show that ended in April after five seasons. I (belatedly) learned about Kim's Convenience when Jung Kim's catch-phrase was the theme of a crossword puzzle in March. Simu Liu is active on Twitter, where he tweets about a variety of topics including Asian representation, throwing out his back, and, of course, the trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
• SARI (61A: Durga Puja dress) Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that pays homage to the Hindu goddess, Durga. It is a 10 day festival in the Indian calendar month of Ashwin (September-October in the Gregorian calendar). Durga Puja is celebrated by scripture recitations, gift giving, family visits, and public processions.
• IDINA (24D: Stage and screen star Menzel) I always enjoy seeing IDINA Menzel in the puzzle; I'm a fan. She originated the role of Elphaba in the Broadway musical, Wicked, for which she won a Tony Award. In that role she sang "Defying Gravity," one of my favorite Broadway tunes. (Who am I kidding? I have many favorite Broadway tunes.) IDINA Menzel also voiced Elsa in Frozen and Frozen II. 
• TIKIS (50D: Polynesian carvings) In Maori mythology, TIKI was the first man created. TIKIS are wooden or stone carvings in humanoid form that mark the boundaries of some sacred sites.

Geography review: 

• OSLO (6A: Capital of Norway) We see OSLO in the puzzle frequently, and that means I've written quite a bit about it. 
• HONG KONG (5D: City with daily ferries to Macau) I mentioned both HONG KONG and Macau two days ago, in reference Cantonese being an official language in both places. HONG KONG is an administrative region of China. Macau is a city in China. Ferries have run between HONG KONG and Macau since the 1960s.
• OMAN (10D: Muscat resident) Muscat is the capital and most populous city in OMAN.

When I read the title of today's puzzle I wondered if the theme was going to relate to fishing. As I filled in the first answer, PHISH (1A: Try to scam via email), I thought, "Oh that's fun!" It took me some time to complete the theme answers, and when I finally filled in ORGANIC EGG, I thought, "WAIT A SEC...that's NICE!" Literally "NICE" - right there in each theme answer. This puzzle was a delightful way to begin my Sunday. Happy Father's Day to those celebrating today.