June 4, 2022

Title: OK 2 EAT

Constructor: Erik Agard

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

TTEOKBOKKI (18A: Stir-fried rice cake dish)

COOKBOOKS (35A: Chef's publications)

TIBOK-TIBOK (55A: Dessert whose name means "heartbeat")

Theme synopsis: Each food-related theme answer has 2 OKs.

Things I learned:

• TIBOK-TIBOK (55A: Dessert whose name means "heartbeat") TIBOK-TIBOK is a dessert pudding that originated in the Philippines. It is made from carabao milk and ground glutinous rice seasoned with key lime zest and a small amount of sugar. (Carabao is a type of water buffalo native to the Philippines.) TIBOK-TOBOK has a characteristic creamy white color. The dessert's name, "TIBOK TIBOK" derives from the fact that when the pudding reaches the correct consistency, bubbles barely break the surface, making the pudding look like it is pulsating.
• HANDBAG (38D: Telfar product) Telfar Clemons, a self-described "queer Liberian-American," launched his eponymous unisex fashion line in 2004 when he was 18 years old. One of the popular Telfar items is HANDBAGs.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• TTEOKBOKKI (18A: Stir-fried rice cake dish) TTEOKBOKKI, also known as simmered rice cake, is a food in Korean cuisine. Cylinder-shaped rice cakes are paired with other ingredients and seasoned with spicy red chili paste. We have seen TTEOKBOKKI previously in clues, and this is the first time we've seen at as a theme answer. That double T pattern at the beginning of the word had me briefly convinced I had an error somewhere.
• BITTER (44A: One of the five basic tastes) The five basic tastes are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.
• ESSENCE (53A: Magazine whose March/April 2022 cover featured Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts) Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts are the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESSENCE.
• POITIER (2D: Hollywood legend Sidney) Hollywood legend, Sidney POITIER, died in January of this year at the age of 94. It was great to see him in the puzzle. 
• SKATE (15D: Go longboarding) As the name suggests, longboards are longer than skateboards. They also feature a larger wheel size, and these two changes provide increased stability and traction. If you're in the mood to SKATE, this article compares longboards and skateboards.
• BI ICON (21D: Loki, for example) The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) character of Loki, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, first appeared in the 2011 movie, Thor. The Disney+ TV series, Loki, premiered in 2021. Loki is portrayed as genderfluid, and is bisexual.

Geography review:

• MIAMI (24A: "Moonlight" setting) Moonlight is a 2016 movie based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney titled In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. The movie was filmed in MIAMI, Florida. Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
• CITY (6D: Accra or Agra) ACCRA is the capital and largest CITY of Ghana. Agra is a CITY in India, and is the location of the Taj Mahal.
• OAKLAND (10D: Where the Black Panther Party was founded) College students, Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton formed the Black Panther Party in October 1966 in OAKLAND, California. 

OK, OK, after solving this puzzle I'm definitely ready to have something 2 EAT. Perhaps it's time to look at some COOKBOOKS and learn how to make TTEOKBOKKI or TIBOK-TIBOK. In addition to the theme, I enjoyed those columns of 7-letter words in the upper left and lower right corners. Thank you, Erik, for this puzzle that was a great way to begin my Saturday. It did not at all make me say, "ARGH!" (48A: "I'm so annoyed!")