Possible Clues:

• — d'oeuvres
• ___ d'oeuvres (appetizers)
• Starter starter?
• Start for d’oeuvres or de combat
• ___ concours (not competing)
• --- d'oeuvres
• Starter but one that doesn't get to the finish, awfully overdue
• __ ''de combat''
• ____ de combat
• ___ concours (unrivaled: Fr.)