Sauce boats a caterer initially ordered (7)
I believe the answer is:
tabasco
'sauce' is the definition.
(Tabasco is an example)
'boats a caterer initially ordered' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'ordered' indicates anagramming the letters.
The initial letter of 'caterer' is 'c'.
'boats'+'a'+'c'='boatsac'
'boatsac' anagrammed gives 'TABASCO'.
(Other definitions for tabasco that I've seen before include "ASBO Act (anag) - hot stuff!" , "Mexican state; pungent sauce" , "Red pepper sauce" , "Hot pepper sauce" , "Hot red sauce" .)