31 May - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Be circumspect ,at first, over hot meal cooked in a sauce (8)

Solution – Béchamel

This was a charades clue – by adding up the constituent parts of the first part of the clue you got to Bechamel which is a famous French sauce.

Be = be

Circumspect, at first – the first letter of circumspect ie c

Hot = h

Meal cooked – ie the letters in "meal" are cooked ie mixed up

Be + c + h + amel = Béchamel

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Other ranks row about a decree

Hint – the last letter is n