Possible Title:
Meatless in L.A.Theme: phrases the last word of which can be a meat meal but which has been eliminated
Good Ones:Ones responsible {for theme} VEGETARIANS
Insight provider? HONDA
Newt with a large vocabulary GINGRICH [I thought GEICO gecko]
By the Way:Thumb in folklore TOM [actually there was a real circus performer named Tom Thumb]
Who knew?:TRIX is rabbit food. I’m guessing this refers to a TV ad.
HESSE is a state bordering Thuringia, or that Thuringia is a state.

{at least I know Saxony and Bavaria} I guess it would be like a German being asked about Rhode Island’s location relative to New Hampshire or North Dakota to Montana. So what’s so bad about “Herman the writer”?
Some Nits to Pick:“I’m all ears!” ASKME [should be “Tell me” because the idiom is used to show that attention is being paid, not that there is a willingness to entertain a request]
RATING:

Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun