Crossword Genius

Spicy food by northern sea (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

baltic

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'northern sea' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'spicy food' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'food' could be 'balti' (I've seen this before) and 'balti' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'c' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for baltic that I've seen before include "Sea in N.Europe" , "water, lots" , "Northern European sea" , "Almost land-locked sea of Scandinavia" , "Cab lit up the sea" .)

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