Possible Clues:

• Best of the bunch!
• Chief executive officer
• Head honcho, and a hint to the first word of 3-, 8-, 21-, or 24-Down
• In hand, most impressive
• Chief plant-holder, overturned, almost cracked
• Big cheese and better crackers, mostly
• Exceptional plantain?
• "But the fruit platter was the best of all. Choice grapes and a ___."
• Best of the bunch
• Cream on fruit for chief