With 2-Down, Chef Who Helped Popularize Chicken Cordon Bleu in the U.S. — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 15, 2025)
The marquee Across entry partners with a Down answer to spotlight a culinary icon. Below you will find the confirmed fill, historical context, and grid tactics. Apostrophes render as ' and quotation marks as " to keep the content HTML-safe.
7 Across
With 2-Down, chef who helped popularize chicken cordon bleu in the U.S.
The fill JULIA pairs with 2-Down CHILD to name Julia Child. Word Tips references the October 15, 2025 puzzle and points directly to the chef's role in popularizing fancy poultry dishes for American audiences.
Why JULIA Is the Right Choice
Historical Anchors
- Julia Child introduced French cuisine to American home cooks through books and television, linking her directly to chicken cordon bleu's rise.
- The clue explicitly signposts the two-part answer via "With 2-Down," signaling a first name entry.
- Word Tips' summary ties the clue to Child's celebrity status, eliminating alternate chef names.
Cross-Letter Grid Support
- 1-Down PAPUA secures the corresponding letter.
- 2-Down CHILD secures the corresponding letter.
- 3-Down SOLID secures the corresponding letter.
- 4-Down WSJ secures the corresponding letter.
- 5-Down OLA secures the corresponding letter.
Strategy & Culinary Context
Watch for Split Entries
When a clue references another entry, expect the theme to span both. Slotting JULIA early positions you to drop CHILD instantly in the Down slot.
Leverage Proper Nouns
Minis often highlight cultural icons. Recognizing Julia Child as a grid regular keeps your solving tempo high.
Crossing Confirmations
Since JULIA relies on a leading J, double-check it against PAPUA before moving on. Once J is confirmed, the rest of the letters cascade smoothly.
Culinary Knowledge Boost
Julia Child learned chicken cordon bleu while attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, later adapting it for American home cooks—perfect trivia for crosswords and dinner conversations alike.
Vocabulary & Reference Shelf
Related Names
- CHILD (2-Down)
- EMERIL
- BAMBI
- RACHAEL
French Cuisine Terms
- CORDON BLEU
- BECHAMEL
- SAUTÉ
- DEMI-GLACE
Letter Pattern Insight
Proper nouns like JULIA often feature vowel-rich structures that ease crossings. Memorizing its J-U start helps you lock the answer quickly whenever crosswords reference the beloved chef.