A rather cold "Poor substitute for a canape" (5)
I believe the answer is:
crisp
This might be a double definition.
'a rather cold poor substitute' is the first definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'canape' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'for a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crisp that I've seen before include "brief" , "Fresh < , cold" , "item of junk food" , "Frosty" , "Hard, brittle; a snack" .)