Something spicy for starters, made by expert (4)
I believe the answer is:
mace
'something spicy' is the definition.
(mace is a spice)
'starters made by expert' is the wordplay.
'starters' indicates taking the first letters.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'expert' becomes 'ace' (ace can informally mean very good).
The initial letter of 'made' is 'm'.
'm'+'ace'='MACE'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for mace that I've seen before include "Spice; ceremonial baton" , "Spice; heavy club" , "something fragrant" , "Came to find ceremonial staff" , "Came to get nutmeg spice" .)