The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 2 plus 6 letter word AU GRATIN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
U
G
R
A
T
I
N
More clues leading to the result AU GRATIN
- Method of preparing a film classification, promoting the end
- Method of preparing brief summer assessment?
- Nothing taken from a month's provision toasted with cheese
- After month, seaman’s back at home displaying culinary style
- Cooked, covered with breadcrumbs, I turn Aga off
- Greek tucked into a tuna I cooked, covered in breadcrumbs
- Class being terminated early after month, making one browned off
- Greek tucking into a tuna I cooked, baked with a coating of breadcrumbs
- Maybe cheesy guitar playing in band eschewing covers
- A superior class finally advanced cooking method
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "How food may be served" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case how food may be served = au gratin.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.