Sally Analyzes USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzle: Breaking Bread

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further!

Breaking Bread

Constructors: Michael Drusedum & Jason Reuben

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• SKA (20A: The Fuss genre) SKA is a music genre from Jamaica, merging mento, calypso, jazz, and rhythm and blues. While I was familiar with SKA, the band “The Fuss” from Washington, D.C., was new to me.
• SEPT (52A: Eat an Extra Dessert Day mo.) Mark your calendars for September 4, known as Eat an Extra Dessert Day! Though the founder of this delightful holiday remains a mystery, we owe them our thanks.
• RAT (13A: Rodent such as Roddy) Flushed Away is a 2006 animated film about rats in the London sewer system. Hugh Jackman voices Roddy St. James, a pampered pet rat flushed into the sewer where he discovers Ratropolis, a sewer city reminiscent of London.
• SAPPORO (43D: Japanese city known for beer) SAPPORO, a city in northern Japan, is home to SAPPORO Breweries, founded in 1876, making it Japan’s oldest beer brand.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• UGLI (14A: Fruit aka the Jamaican tangelo) UGLI fruit, a Jamaica-origin hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit, emerged spontaneously in the early 1900s. Marketed by Cabel Hall Citrus Limited, UGLI fruit has a rough, wrinkled rind.
• OPERA (16A: “The Barber of Seville,” e.g.) The Barber of Seville is an 1816 OPERA by Gioachino Rossini about the romance between Count Almaviva and Rosina. Dr. Bartolo, Rosina’s guardian, plans to marry her himself, setting the stage for antics involving Figaro, the titular barber. Despite being over 200 years old, it’s still popular and even inspired a Looney Tunes short, Rabbit of Seville.
• T’NIA (35A: “Sex Education” actress Miller) Sex Education on Netflix centers on students, staff, and parents of Moordale Secondary School. Asa Butterfield stars as Otis Milburn, who doles out sex advice. In season two, T’NIA Miller plays the chair of the school board.
• BTS (53A: “DNA” K-pop band) The K-pop sensation BTS released “DNA” in 2017, recording it in both Korean and Japanese. Last year, the song was inducted into Korea World Music Culture’s Hall of Fame.
• IBM (59A: “Big Blue” co.) IBM, or International Business Machines Corporation, founded in 1911, became known as Big Blue in the 1980s. The nickname possibly links to their blue logo or the navy suits worn by IBM salespeople.
• BEDSPREAD (62A: Decorative cover similar to a comforter) Unlike comforters, which are thick and insulated, BEDSPREADs are lightweight coverings typically used in warm weather. They’re less popular for home use today, according to The Spruce.
• FARSI (66A: Language related to Tajik) FARSI, the official language of Iran, is also spoken in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Tajik is the local variation spoken by the Tajiks in Tajikistan.
• ASIA (68A: Cho Oyu’s continent) Cho Oyu, at 26,864 feet, is the sixth-highest mountain in the world, located on the Tibet-Nepal border in ASIA.
• SERB (71A: The NBA’s Nikola Jokic, for one) Nikola Jokić from Serbia plays for NBA’s Denver Nuggets. In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Jokić secured a silver medal for Serbia’s Basketball Team, defeated by Team USA in the finals.
• TIANA ((7D: Disney princess who sings “Almost There”) TIANA is the heroine of Disney’s 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog. Set in New Orleans, TIANA, voiced by Anika Noni Rose, dreams of opening a restaurant, a shared aspiration with her late father.
• BUTTRESS (38D: “Flying” architectural support) A BUTTRESS supports walls; a flying BUTTRESS forms an arch extending from the wall. Notable in Gothic architecture, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris features prominent flying BUTTRESSes.
• FWIW (40D: Texter’s “Not sure if this is helpful, but…”) FWIW translates to “for what it’s worth…”
• SIAMESE (45D: Short-haired cat breed from Asia) Known for their almond-shaped eyes, triangular ears, short hair, and slender build, SIAMESE cats originate from Thailand. Each cat’s stripe pattern is as unique as human fingerprints.

• ZEBRAS (51D: Striped African mammals) ZEBRAS, native to Africa, come in three species: plains ZEBRA, Grevy’s ZEBRA, and mountain ZEBRA. Each ZEBRA has a unique stripe pattern, akin to human fingerprints.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• BEACH READ (17A: Romance novel enjoyed by the ocean, e.g.)
• BREASTFED (38A: Nursed, like a baby)
• BEDSPREAD (62A: Decorative cover similar to a comforter)

The word BREAD is cleverly split in the theme answers: BEACH READ, BREASTFED, and BEDSPREAD.

While BEACH READ describes a type of novel enjoyed by the ocean, it’s also a 2020 romance novel by Emily Henry. Though reading it on the BEACH seems fitting, there’s no obligation. Today’s puzzle can be enjoyed anywhere – no BEACH required. Kudos to Michael Drusedum and Jason Reuben on their USA Today debuts, and thank you for the delightful puzzle!

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

Source: USA TODAY