bon appetit

[goldiewi]

10, consumption might help your figure, part of it anyway (10)
32. sounds like a spook after the fire (7)
39. the mona lisa proves too much for me to swallow (9)

[londonlove]

32. goulash

[londonlove]

39. Florentine

[wymondham2]

I have seen watermelon posted for no 10. Has anyone got no 27.....Mexican oracle in a clinch (6,3,5,). Thank you in advance

[goldiewi]

many thanks londonlove and wymondham2 i have chilli con carne for 27 anagram of oracle in clinch

[wymondham2]

Thank you goldiewi....however did I miss that!

[smouse]

thick moment
why florentine?

[londonlove]

Hi
Florentine because the Mona Lisa was a Florentine lady and ' hard to swallow ' because of the many mysteries concerning the picture, the identity of the woman, maybe also the stories regarding the theft of the painting.
Hard to swallow might also refer to her expression - the enigmatic smile! - but I don't know why the compiler has put that it ' proves too much for ME' to swallow. Maybe it just means that he or she finds it all a bit hard to take in.

[Catron]

But Florentine has ten letters and the answer wanted by goldiewi has only nine?

[londonlove]

Oops - well spotted. Many apologies for that...it just seemed to fit the clue well but obviously is incorrect. Thanks Catron

[smouse]

glad I asked I am one of those irritating people who has to know why lol