\documentclass[notitle]{article}

\usepackage{glossaries}

\newglossary[spg]{special}{sps}{spo}{Special Characters}
\makeglossaries

\begin{document}

\newglossaryentry{e-acute}{
  name = \'{e},
  description = {e with acute [U+00E9]},
  type = special,
  sort = eacute
}

\newglossaryentry{cafe}{
  name = {caf\gls{e-acute}},
  description = { }
}

My favorite place to eat is a beef \gls{cafe}.  Beef is amazing and \gls{cafe} classes it up so I don't feel like such a loser.

\printglossary[type=special]

\end{document}
