Today's Strands puzzle celebrates the savory world of side dishes. From crispy French fries to wavy crinkles and warm waffles, this puzzle invites you to uncover the tasty treats that complement your main meal.
This Monday, May 5th, brings a new round of thrills in today’s Strands puzzle, the fun of which resides in a good old friend: food. Starting the week, the puzzle sets you off on a delicious excursion of scrumptious things we eat that tag along on our day-long quests. From crispy ones to warming staples, the theme for today is an appreciation of the companions to the main meal that bring out flavor, texture, and fulfillment.
To unlock clues in Strands, start by discovering any valid non-theme word that is four letters or more. For every three valid non-theme words you discover, a clue will be unlocked to lead you closer to the puzzle’s secret theme. Words such as STEAK, FRIES, WAVE, or CURL will put you on the right track. These words might not necessarily be part of the theme, but they will help you unravel the puzzle’s secret connections.
As you go along with these words, the links will be revealed, and you will be able to decipher the theme and be directed towards the spangram that connects all this.
To enable hints in Strands, start by looking for any correct non-theme word that has a minimum of four letters. Every time you successfully identify three non-theme words, a hint will be opened for you to assist you even further in deciphering the puzzle’s theme. Words such as CURL, MEEK, FOUR, NICE, FRIES, and SHOW will point you in the direction. These words are not necessarily part of the theme, but they will lead you as you decipher the relationships between the clues.
FRENCH FRIES, the day’s spangram, brings the whole puzzle together. It runs along the grid, connecting all the theme words. This tasty old spangram adds flavor to the puzzle and makes the theme obvious as soon as it’s found. When the spangram is uncovered, it provides the last boost to fill in the rest of the grid, finishing the puzzle and connecting all the side dishes.
SHOESTRING – Crispy and thin, similar to an old-school fry.
STEAK – A savory, meaty friend of the fries.
FRENCH FRIES – The classic side dish that everyone knows and loves everywhere.
CURLY – The twist on the original fry, with plenty of turns and taste.
HOME – Home cooking and the warmth that comes with it.
CRINKLE – Textured and wavy, great for dipping.
WAFFLE – Sweet and crispy, with a great pair for savory food.
This week’s Strands puzzle is a tasty tour of side dishes that enrich our meals and light up our tables. As soon as FRENCH FRIES is revealed, the puzzle’s complete flavor comes into focus. New challenges come in May, and today’s puzzle serves up a delicious beginning to the week. Cheers to the side dishes that never fail and the puzzles that keep our minds in top shape.