Crossword Genius

EU backs protective measure, British pound for French food (6,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cordon bleu

'french food' is the definition.

'eu backs protective measure british pound' is the wordplay.
'backs' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'protective measure' becomes 'cordon'.
'british' becomes 'b' (abbreviation e.g. in 'BBC').
'pound' becomes 'L' (abbreviation e.g. Lsd - pounds, shillings, pence).
'cordon'+'b'+'l'='cordonbl'
'eu' after 'cordonbl' is 'CORDON BLEU'.

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for cordon bleu that I've seen before include "(Of cookery) very high standard" , "Of a very high standard (food)" , "distinguished chef" , "High class chef" , "Of the highest culinary order" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app