December 13, 2025

Title: GRATUITY INCLUDED

Constructor: Sala Wanetick

Editor: Amanda Rakfin

Theme synopsis:

• SERENGETI PLAIN (20A: Tanzania region known for the Great Migration)
• MULTIPURPOSE (38A: Like a Swiss Army knife or storage bench)
• CONFETTI POPPER (58A: Image in the "ta-da" emoji)

GRATUITY INCLUDED: Each theme answer contains the word TIP (a synonym of GRATUITY): SERENGETI PLAIN, MULTIPURPOSE, and CONFETTI POPPER.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• BEET (65A: Red veggie in vinegret) In Russian cuisine, vinegret is a salad made with BEETs, potatoes, carrots, and onions, along with sauerkraut and/or brined pickles.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SCARF (5A: Accessory that might be 100% pashmina) Pashmina is a type of cashmere wool. The term is sometimes used to specifically refer to the wool from Changthangi goats, a breed native to northern India. A pashmina SCARF is soft and warm.
• PREP (10A: HIV-prevention drug) PREP is short for "pre-exposure prophylaxis," a term used to describe the use of antiviral medications in HIV/AIDS prevention, specifically in persons not yet exposed to the virus. The pharmacologist in me would like to be pedantic and point out that this clue would be more accurate if it read [HIV-prevention drugs] or [HIV-prevention therapy] or [HIV-prevention method]. The reason is that PREP is not a specific drug itself, but refers to therapy, which usually involves treatment with a combination of drugs.
• RAVI (14A: Sitarist Shankar) RAVI Shankar (1920-2012) was a sitarist and composer. The sitar was invented in India in the 13th century. It is a plucked string instrument used widely in Hindustani classical music. Many people associate the sitar with RAVI Shankar's music.
• HALAL (15A: Opposite of haram) I wrote about HALAL and haram when we saw this clue / answer pair a little over a week ago.
• SERENGETI PLAIN (20A: Tanzania region known for the Great Migration) The SERENGETI PLAIN is a geographical region in East Africa. This area is home to one of the world's largest land animal migrations. The Great Migration (a migration of zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles in response to available grazing) is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
• SESAME (25A: Type of seed in tahini) Tahini is essentially ground toasted SESAME seed. You might think of it as SESAME seed butter. Tahini is a main ingredient in hummus and baba ghanouj.
• TETON (32A: Grand ___ National Park) Grand TETON National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming. The TETONs are a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains, and most of the east side of the range is within the Grand TETON National Park.
• YOU (35A: "While ___ Were Sleeping" ('90s rom-com)) While YOU Were Sleeping  is a 1995 rom-com starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. Sandra Bullock portrays a Chicago Transit Authority worker who rescues a man after muggers push him onto the train tracks. She then, as the result of a misunderstanding, becomes involved with the man's family (because that's what happens in rom-coms!).
• NHL (44A: Red Wings' league) The Detroit Red Wings are an NHL team based in Detroit, Michigan.
• CONFETTI POPPER (58A: Image in the "ta-da" emoji) 🎉
• RAMI (8D: "The Amateur" actor Malek) The Amateur is a 2025 movie based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell. RAMI Malek portrays CIA cryptographer and vigilante Charles "Charlie" Heller.
• PLEASE HOLD (10D: Receptionist's line before Muzak starts) I enjoyed this clue. We've all heard this line, haven't we? "PLEASE HOLD" ... and then the Muzak (a brand of background music) starts. 
• LOU (31D: Cindy ___ Who) Cindy-LOU Who is a character in the 1957 children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. She also appears, of course, in the film adaptations of the book.
• FTW (34D: Post-victory initialism) FTW = for the win

Today's title allowed me to make an accurate guess about the theme. I felt so smart when I then spotted the word TIP in SERENGETI PLAIN. Thank you, Sala, for this enjoyable puzzle.