Before becoming a crossword puzzle creator in 2007, Mike Peluso taught French, German, Spanish and Latin and spent ten years as vice principal of a high school in Kent, Washington. His crosswords have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and Games magazine. His crossword for today includes this clue: "When translated into English, beer brand that hints at the common feature of the five other longest puzzle answers." The answer is DOSEQUIS, which is Spanish for "two X's."
Nachos, e.g.: TEXMEXDISH
Stipulation on le menu: PRIXFIXE
Start of an old news announcement: EXTRAEXTRA
Where gas and lodging may be found: NEXTEXIT
Historic Chicago-to-Santa Monica route: SIXTYSIX
Prix fixe is French for "fixed price" and refers to a meal offered by a restaurant at a set price. Table d'hote, literally "table of the host," means the same thing. Are there any restaurants which do not have a fixed price for their menu items? I've never yet seen a menu that says "Make us an offer."
The Chicago-to-Santa Monica highway was designated U.S. Route 66 in 1926. It was also known as the Will Rogers Memorial Highway. After many realignments and construction of new interstate highways, the original Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985 but portions of the original road still exist and many are marked by signs saying "Historic Route 66." When you watch Pasadena's annual Tournament of Roses Parade on television, you're seeing Colorado Boulevard, a section of the original Route 66.
As for Dos Equis, the lager was first brewed in 1897 by Wilhelm Hasse, a German immigrant who in 1884 had established a brewery in Veracruz, Mexico. Hasse named the lager Siglo XX ("20th Century") and it became popularly known as Dos Equis ("Two X's"). The popular name soon became the official name. The lager is now produced by CervecerĂa CuauhtĂ©moc Moctezuma, a subsidiary of Heineken International.
"Virginie, par example" is ETAT, which is not used in English. "CVI halved" is LIII -- and Roman numerals do not seem to be used anywhere in the 21st century except in the titles of movie sequels.....and crossword puzzles.
