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Another excellent Everyman continuing the trend we've seen of late.

I didn't find this as easy as some of the others and there are still a couple of clues where the wordplay still eludes me, namely the crossing 22a and 17d, although I'm fairly sure of my answers.

If you do get stuck there are a couple of long anagrams in the downs, but one does require the removal of a letter.

COD - there were several contenders - the succinct 12a and 14d, the lovely 16d, but I'm going with 3d "sought-after square" indeed! Actually, I'm going to have two COD's because 16d is just too good not to be one.

I didn't notice any themes but, as I've said before, if missing obvious themes was an Olympic sport I'd be a gold medalist.

It was great to see some new posters joining our friendly Forum chat. I know I sat on the sidelines for ages before finally taking the plunge but I promise you - it's worth it.

Stay safe:-)

HI Brendan, an enjoyable puzzle, I thought. The different styles from week to week would seem to indicate that 'Everyman' is more than one setter.

22a. is a French term for 'on the way', around C(hicken), leading to another French term.
17d. is &Lit. An anagram leading to a word for 'spreads perfume around'

Hi Mattrom,

I saw the "on the way" but I'm having a hard time equating that to "being waited on".

17d I can't see what appears to be the anagram fodder make any word except "centesis" - what am i missing?

...just to clarify, I know the answer isn't "centesis", I'm just saying that's the only word the anagram fodder seems to make.

It's an anagram of (r)esin+scen(t). I had to check Chambers that it could be a verb, as I initially saw it as a plural noun.

Of course - I'm such a moron:-(

Many thanks Mattrom.

Actually, I suppose if something "is on the way" like a letter or parcel, it is being "waited on" .

Yes Brendan, something on the way is being waited on.

Hi Mystogre,

Of course you're right, I don't know why it didn't see it before - that coupled with my complete hash of the wordplay for 17d - just not my day:-)

Another real tester for me today although it took far less time than I had to give to yesterday's Prize! The main thing to take away from today is that I could have saved myself staring at 15a for so long if I hadn't been misspelling one of the words for the last (...) years! I think I'll give 18a my "clue of the day" award as, although I groaned when I finally found the answer, I was cleverly misdirected by the wordplay (no pun intended). Thanks Everyman.