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"Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!" - NYT The Midi Clue
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The clue "Rubs the wrong way" refers to something that irritates, annoys, or bothers someone. The word "IRKS" perfectly fits this definition, as it means to annoy or distress someone. It's a concise term that aligns directly with the idea of causing irritation or discomfort, thus the correct answer.
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The clue uses a pun. "Singles" refers to single dollar bills, which are often used for small tips at coffee shops. The word "perhaps" indicates this is one possible explanation. Hence, "A few singles" can represent a small monetary "TIP" left for the barista.
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The word "MEEK" means showing a quiet, gentle, and submissive nature, fitting the clue directly. A "submissive" person is often described as docile or unassertive, synonymous with being meek. The clue straightforwardly connects the quality to its definition without wordplay.
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The word "FUME" fits as the answer because it describes a state of intense anger, often implied as "steaming" with rage. To "seethe" also suggests being visibly or emotionally agitated, much like fumes rising from something boiling or heated, metaphorically linking anger to fumes.
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The answer "ANTI" works for "Voting against" because "ANTI-" is a prefix meaning "against" or "opposed to." If someone is voting against a proposal or idea, they are in opposition to it, aligning with the meaning of "ANTI."
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Meter and liter are standard measurements in the metric system. Both represent quantities—meter measures length, and liter measures volume. The term "UNIT" refers to a single standard of measurement, making it the correct answer as both meter and liter are units of measurement.
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COOL BEANS is a casual expression meaning "great!" or "awesome!" Here, the clue imagines complimenting a chef's garbanzo beans, making the idiom literal. It's one of the puzzle's two theme answers, where familiar food expressions become compliments about actual dishes.
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OIL is the liquid commonly used in deep fryers to cook food by submerging it in hot fat. It has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying at high temperatures. The clue directly describes the primary substance used for this cooking method, leading to the answer OIL.
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GOOD GRAVY is a mild exclamation of surprise or amazement. The clue reimagines it as praise for delicious meat gravy, turning the expression into a literal compliment. Together with COOL BEANS, it forms the puzzle's food-themed gimmick.
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The clue "Breath-taking organ?" uses wordplay. The phrase can mean both an organ crucial for taking breaths (literal) and a breathtaking pun. The lung is the organ responsible for breathing, fitting both interpretations, and the question mark signals the pun aspect of the clue.
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OREO is the solution because it’s a well-known cookie often enjoyed with milk. Its creamy filling and crunchy chocolate wafers make it a classic choice for dunking. This aligns directly with the clue, as OREO is famously marketed and recognized for this pairing.
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The clue "Ah, gotcha" is enclosed in quotes, signaling a spoken phrase. "I SEE" is a natural response someone might say when they suddenly understand or grasp something, akin to saying "Ah, I get it!" This aligns perfectly with the clue's meaning.
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The word "DEAR" is a traditional and formal way to address someone in letters, typically at the beginning. It is often the first word in such correspondences, e.g., "Dear Sir/Madam." The clue specifies "formal letter," aligning perfectly with this commonly used salutation.
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BTS is the correct answer because it is the widely used abbreviation for the K-pop group Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to "Bulletproof Boy Scouts" in English. The group is also known as the Bangtan Boys, aligning perfectly with the clue’s description.
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"Red tag event" refers to the common use of red tags or stickers to signify discounted items in stores. These events are often called sales, where items are marked down in price. Hence, the answer "SALE" fits perfectly as it represents such a promotional event.
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The answer "IMAC" fits the clue because the iMac is an all-in-one desktop computer created by Apple. It integrates the computer's hardware (processor, storage, etc.) into the monitor, eliminating the need for a separate tower—perfectly matching the "all-in-one" description in the clue.
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The answer is RENO because it is a well-known city in Nevada, often referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World." Its capitalized mention in the clue directly asks for the name of a prominent city in the state of Nevada.
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The answer "KETO" refers to the ketogenic diet, abbreviated as "keto." It is a high-fat, low-carb diet that shifts the body into a state of ketosis, where fat is burned for energy instead of carbs. The clue specifies "for short," signaling an abbreviation.
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The clue "Where you might sip hot cocoa on a mountain" refers to a common cozy location for skiers and winter visitors. A SKILODGE is typically situated on or near a mountain and serves as a place to warm up, relax, and enjoy hot beverages like cocoa after skiing or snowboarding.
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The answer is TUNA because a "tuna melt" is a popular toasted sandwich typically made with tuna salad and melted cheese on bread. The blank in the clue refers to the word "tuna," completing the common name of this dish.
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The clue "Sign me up!" is in quotes, indicating a spoken phrase. "I'm in" (IMIN) is a common expression someone says when enthusiastically agreeing to participate in something, effectively "signing up." The casual nature aligns with the conversational tone of the clue.
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The clue uses wordplay with "sitting and rolling over," actions typically taught to animals like dogs. The "rewards" refer to "PETS," as affectionate actions like petting are often given to animals as a reward for performing tricks or good behavior. The playful tone fits the pun!
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The answer "FUELRODS" fits because these cylindrical tubes contain nuclear fuel, typically uranium or plutonium, used in nuclear reactors. The clue refers to "Tubes," directly describing the shape of these rods, and "power nuclear reactors," indicating their function in producing energy through nuclear fission.
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The clue "Massive" directly refers to something large in size or magnitude. "Big" is a synonym for "massive," making it the correct solution. This clue has no wordplay or alternate layers—it's a straightforward equivalence of meaning between the clue and the answer.
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The answer is GLIB because the word describes someone who is smooth-talking, often speaking in an insincere or superficial manner. GLIB suggests effortless speech that lacks depth or sincerity, perfectly aligning with the clue’s intent.
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The solution "OUST" works because it means to forcibly remove or expel someone from a position or power, matching the clue's definition directly. It's a concise verb commonly used in contexts of removing authority figures or leaders from their roles.
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The answer is ONES because vending machines typically accept $1 bills, often referred to as "ones" in casual speech. The clue refers to these smaller denomination bills commonly used for such transactions, making ONES the fitting solution.
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The formula to calculate the AREA of a rectangle is base x height (or length x width). This directly corresponds to the clue, as it describes the mathematical method used to find the space within a rectangle's boundaries.
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Wiener schnitzel is a traditional Austrian dish made of a thin, breaded, and fried cutlet. The classic and authentic version is made with VEAL, as specified by Austrian culinary tradition. While variations may exist using other meats, VEAL is the original and most recognized choice.
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The answer "YORE" fits because "yore" refers to times long past or bygone eras. The phrase "Days of yore" is a common expression meaning days of the past, perfectly aligning with the clue's context of "bygone times."
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Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 9-letter answer to the "Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!" clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or if this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
"Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!" Answer Explained
The answer is COOLBEANS.
COOL BEANS is an informal exclamation used to express approval, enthusiasm, or agreement; it's essentially another way of saying "That's awesome!" Although the phrase contains the word "beans," it's almost always used figuratively rather than to describe food. Today's theme cleverly flips that expectation by having a diner praise a chef's garbanzo beans with the words "Cool beans!" Suddenly, the idiom works on two levels: it's both a genuine compliment and a literal reference to the meal being served. Along with GOOD GRAVY, it showcases the puzzle's playful idea of turning familiar food idioms into compliments for a chef.
Now that you've cracked the 12A "Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!" clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Midi Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more NYT The Midi crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, NYT The Mini puzzle, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Midi Highlights
Sid Sivakumar’s “Compliments to the Chef” is a satisfying Wednesday puzzle that builds its theme around a pair of familiar expressions with a delicious twist. The stars are COOL BEANS and GOOD GRAVY, both common idioms that already contain food words. Instead of using them figuratively, the clues imagine diners praising dishes made from those very ingredients: garbanzos earning “Cool beans!” and a meat sauce inspiring “Good gravy!” The result is a pair of groan-worthy but elegant puns that reward solvers once the pattern clicks into place.
The rest of the grid provides a smooth solving experience with a nice variety of modern and classic fill, from BTS, IMAC, and KETO to longer entries like SKI LODGE and FUEL RODS. The clues stay approachable while offering a few playful touches, such as “Breath-taking organ?” for LUNG. Like a well-prepared meal, the puzzle is comforting, clever without being overcomplicated, and leaves solvers with a smile and, perhaps, a new appreciation for just how many everyday compliments are already hiding in the pantry.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
About The Midi
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.
While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.
Format and Structure
Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.
Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.
A Digital-First Puzzle
The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.
Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.
Editorial Approach
The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.
This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).
New Rules and Creative Flexibility
The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:
- Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
- Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
- Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.