There’s nothing quite like the daily ritual of settling down with a fresh crossword. The satisfying click of a pen, the gentle hum of your brain whirring, the anticipation of that ‘aha!’ moment. But every now and then, a
crossword clue
comes along that makes you pause, scratch your head, and maybe even let out a frustrated groan. Today’s puzzle certainly offered up one of those delightful head-scratchers, a real test of our cryptic prowess that had us craving a well-earned snack by the time we were done.
The culprit? This intriguing little gem:
‘Gourmet to make better mince pie first (7)‘
.
At first glance, it almost reads like a recipe instruction, doesn’t it? ‘Gourmet to make better mince pie first.’ Immediately, my mind went to the kitchen, picturing chefs in tall hats, perfecting their festive bakes. But of course, this isn’t a cooking blog (though I do enjoy a good mince pie!). This is the world of cryptic crosswords, where every word is a potential misdirection, a clever pun, or a sneaky instruction. And this particular
crossword clue
is a prime example of how seemingly straightforward language can hide layers of linguistic trickery.
Let’s dissect this savory morsel of a clue, without giving away the secret ingredient (the answer itself!). We’ve got two main parts to any cryptic crossword clue: the definition and the wordplay. The definition gives us a direct hint about what the answer means, usually at the beginning or end of the clue. Here, ‘Gourmet’ seems to be our target meaning. We’re looking for a seven-letter word that describes someone with a discerning palate, a lover of fine food, perhaps even a connoisseur.
Now, for the fun part: the wordplay. ‘to make better mince pie first.’ This is where the real cryptic magic happens. When you encounter a
crossword clue
like this, your internal alarm bells should be ringing for several classic cryptic devices.
‘make better’:
This phrase is ripe for interpretation. Could it be an anagram indicator, suggesting we rearrange letters to ‘make’ a word ‘better’? Or perhaps it’s a verb in itself, hinting at a word that means ‘improve’ or ‘refine’? Cryptic setters love to use verbs as hidden definitions within the wordplay itself, adding an extra layer of challenge to the
crossword clue
.
‘mince pie’:
Ah, the delicious festive treat! Is it just flavour, or is it an essential ingredient in the wordplay? Could ‘mince pie’ be anagrammed, despite it being two words? Is it a homophone? A charade? Or, and this is a classic, is it the source of some letters? The specific nature of “mince pie” might lead us down a culinary path that’s more about word construction than actual baking. Solving this kind of
crossword clue
often means thinking outside the literal meaning of common phrases.
‘first’:
This tiny word packs a punch in cryptic crosswords. ‘First’ almost always signals that you need to take the initial letter (or letters) of something. But of what? The first letter of ‘mince’? The first letter of ‘pie’? The first letters of ‘mince pie’ together? Or perhaps the first letters of
each
word in ‘to make better mince pie’? When faced with such a
crossword clue
, you have to try all the combinations, seeing which one fits the required seven letters and leads back to our ‘Gourmet’ definition.
The beauty of this particular
crossword clue
lies in its ability to distract with its food theme while demanding meticulous attention to the wordplay indicators. It’s a wonderful example of how setters combine everyday language with hidden instructions. You’re looking for a word that perfectly fits the ‘Gourmet’ definition, and can be logically constructed from the clever instructions in ‘to make better mince pie first’. It’s a true brain teaser!
Did this
crossword clue
stump you, or did you crack it open like a perfectly baked nut roast? What was your initial thought process for this daily crossword challenge? Share your strategies in the comments below – no spoilers for the answer, of course, but I’d love to hear how you approached the wordplay. It’s always fascinating to see the different paths solvers take to reach that satisfying solution.
Stay tuned for more
crossword clue
breakdowns and tips right here. Until then, keep those cryptic gears turning, and happy solving!
Available Answers:
EPICURE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 21 July 2025