Theme: "Food for Thought" - Food with country name in is punnily clued as if it's not a food item.
23A. Easy-to-hit pitch in Stockholm?: SWEDISH MEATBALL.
45A. Minor matter in Manchester?: ENGLISH TRIFLE.
96A. Argument in Ulaanbaatar?: MONGOLIAN BEEF.
123A. Rent money in Mumbai?: INDIAN FLATBREAD.
17D. Medal recipient in Milan?: ITALIAN HERO.
33D. Worried state in Dublin?: IRISH STEW.
60D. Dance move in Dijon?: FRENCH DIP.
71D Inferior items in Zurich?: SWISS CHEESE.
We've seen similar puzzles before, though most with straightforward clue approach.
Don G and I made one for the MN crossword tournament a few years ago. We used the language approach. For example, our SWEDISH MEATBALL is clued "Köttbullar?" FRENCH BREAD is clued as "Pain?"
Across:
7. Impounds, maybe: TOWS AWAY.
15. Very silly: APISH. Is this a word you actually use?
20. Charge: IONIZE.
21. Asthma sufferers' aids: INHALERS.
22. Not a sparkling finish: MATTE.
25. Apple tablets: IPADS.
26. Home and nickname of The University of the South: SEWANEE. Unfamiliar with Sewanee: The University of the South. It's in Sewanee, Tennessee.
27. Pet __: PEEVE.
28. Touch: FEEL.
29. Anna __, 18th-/19th-century poet called the Swan of Lichfield: SEWARD. Also unknown to me.
32. 1973 Judy Blume novel: DEENIE. Another unknown.
34. Swell: RISE.
37. Johannesburg's land: Abbr.: RSA. Republic of South Africa
40. Precisely: TO A T.
42. Classical and Romantic: ERAS.
44. Grass bristle: AWN.
52. Steamed state: IRE.
53. "Just kidding!": NOT.
54. Shakespearean title city: VERONA.
55. Caulking materials: SEALANTS. I hear "drip. drip" noise in our bedroom. The noise seems to come from the floor register. I don't know what caused it. Has this happened to you before? Maybe we should call those Clean Sweep guys and have all the vents cleaned. Sometimes I also hear the "drip" noise in our bathroom wall. Nothing is leaking though.
57. More than dislike: ABHOR.
59. London classic, with "The": SEA-WOLF. Jack London.
61. Gung-ho: RAH RAH.
62. "Big Little Lies" co-star with Nicole, Shailene, Laura and Zoë: REESE. Here they're.
63. How dividends might be paid: PRO RATA.
66. Dustin's "Midnight Cowboy" role: RATSO.
68. Toledo's lake: ERIE.
69. __ facto: IPSO.
72. PC storage stats: MEGS.
73. Colombian cat: GATO.
74. Agile deer: ROES.
75. Fuzzy fruit: KIWI.
76. Online memo: E NOTE.
78. Flips, in a way: RESELLS.
80. __ Isle: Ireland nickname: ERIN'S.
82. Lindsay's Broadway writing partner: CROUSE. One more stranger: Russel Crouse. Howard Lindsay.
84. Brothers of old Hollywood: WARNERS. The Warner Brothers.
88. Stitch temporarily: BASTE.
89. Being a nuisance to: HARRYING.
92. Research: LOOK UP.
93. @@@@: ATS.
94. Fish often fried: COD.
98. IBM competitor: NEC.
99. Chicago daily, familiarly: TRIB.
101. Nair rival, once: NEET.
102. Radical '60s org.: SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.
103. Tennis immortal: ASHE. Arthur Ashe. Boomer has this in his stamp books.
105. Times to remember: EPOCHS.
109. Pioneer 35mm cameras: LEICAS.
113. Outback birds: EMUS.
115. Realizes: REAPS.
117. 121-Across maker: NABISCO. 121. Sandwich cookies: OREOS.
126. Tomato __: PASTE.
127. Devotions: FEALTIES. Spell check does not like the plural form.
128. Honduras hundred: CIENTO.
129. Rough suit fabric: TWEED.
130. In a bind?: CORSETED.
131. Dave of "Storage Wars": HESTER. Also a stranger.
Down:
2. Investment firm T. __ Price: ROWE.
3. From square one: ANEW.
4. King with a gilt complex?: MIDAS.
5. Web mag: E-ZINE.
6. Alter, in a way: RESEW.
7. "Mystic River" Oscar winner Robbins: TIM.
8. Indivisible: ONE.
9. Sound of a hit: WHAP.
10. Totally full: SATED.
11. "Tiny Alice" playwright: ALBEE (Edward)
12. Emulate Silas Marner: WEAVE.
13. Garfield's gal pal: ARLENE.
14. Fashion initials: YSL.
15. Gallic girlfriend: AMIE.
16. Staples supply: PAPER.
18. Typical: Abbr.: STD.
19. Fellows: HES.
24. "The Return of the Native" setting: HEATH.
28. Sweat: FEAR.
30. Goes bad: ROTS.
31. Challenge: DARE.
35. Two-time Tony winner Kurtz: SWOOSIE.
36. Menu heading: ENTREES.
37. Guns: REVS.
38. Old-time knife: SNEE.
39. Uttar Pradesh tourist city: AGRA.
41. Princess topper: TIARA.
43. Scorch: SEAR.
46. Starting place for a comeback: LOW POINT.
47. "Are we going __ not?": IN OR.
48. Strauss opera: SALOME.
49. Where St. Pete is: FLA.
50. First actor who sang "If I Were King of the Forest": LAHR (Bert) . The Cowardly Lion.
51. Tick off: ENRAGE.
56. Byes: TATAS.
58. Brewpub bragger, often: BEER SNOB.
64. Greek marketplace: AGORA.
65. Weather forecast shorthand: T STORM.
67. "Fan-cee!": OO LA LA.
69. Japanese floral art: IKEBANA. Love this fill.
70. Hook and Silver: PIRATES.
77. German capital: EURO.
78. Have the throne: REIGN.
79. Scientology founder Hubbard: L RON.
81. Religious offshoot: SECT.
83. Prefix with fuel: SYN.
85. Squeezes (out): EKES.
86. Wished undone: RUED.
87. Sunscreen nos.: SPFS.
90. Caroling standard: NOEL.
91. __ club: GLEE.
95. Metal-yielding minerals: ORES.
97. Book that spawned the film "What's Love Got to Do With It": I TINA. Now a Swiss. She had to give up her US citizenship.
100. Island administered by three countries: BORNEO.
104. Play too broadly: EMOTE.
106. Moth-repellent wood: CEDAR.
107. Flags down: HAILS.
108. Sudden outpouring: SPATE.
110. Trick: CATCH.
111. Yippie Hoffman: ABBIE.
112. Stud farm residents: SIRES.
114. Likely to be discounted: USED.
116. Foul mood: SNIT.
118. Posted: SENT.
119. Blanchett of "Elizabeth": CATE. Such a talented actress.
120. You may get a whiff of one: ODOR.
121. Select: OPT.
122. __ bar: RAW.
123. "Portlandia" network: IFC.
124. Tax prep charge: FEE.
125. Trippy '60s drug: LSD.
