Escoffier is impressed by inventive starter and main (5)
I believe the answer is:
chief
'main' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chief that I've seen before include "Organisation head" , "Person in charge, head" , "cardinal" , "Tribal head" , "Leader; most important" .)