Supper tonight at Clean Slate Eatery in West Dennis could not have been better. We haven't enjoyed…read morea finer meal on Cape Cod. The chefs are true artists, imagining and executing haute cuisine with skill, precision, and personality.
We opted for the optional caviar starter course, which was brilliant. The caviar, served with Pringles potato chips and tangy egg salad, was an exquisite introduction to the tasting menu. The house-made sourdough focaccia with homemade butter may have been the best bread we've eaten.
The dayboat scallop was pan-seared and paired with ginger whey-poached pork belly, Anson Mills Carolina Gold lobster congee, and a sake-soy veil. It was incredible. The peas and carrots course of Thumbelina carrots, sweet peas, whipped coconut, and carrot-mint consommé was unlike anything we've experienced before. It was inspired.
The fluke was sorrel brioche-crusted and accompanied by razor clam escabeche, sauce romesco, and sea beans, was magnificent. The chef spoke about harvesting the local sea beans himself, and the razor clam purveyor happened to be dining alongside us. It was a memorable and distinctly Cape Cod moment.
The intermezzo was a cranberry membrane filled with a refreshing burst of vodka, and delightfully cleansed the palate. The optional foie gras bonbon, encased in milk chocolate, was another triumph. We agreed we would have missed out had we passed on it. It was one of the finest foie gras bites we've ever enjoyed.
The tri-tip sirloin course featured American Wagyu with sweet onion soubise and toasted ramp-and-vinegar gnocchi. "Amazing" hardly begins to describe it.
The Humboldt Fog cheese course was dramatically torched tableside and served with blueberry shallot jam, toasted milk bread, and smoked almonds. Sublime, artistic, and utterly delicious.
The included dessert course featured caramelized white chocolate, lychee, pink guava sorbet, macadamia toffee, white chocolate gel, and olive oil sponge. It was unbelievably good. An optional dessert accompaniment, ordered by every diner, was a layered chocolate, shortbread, and banana tart topped with caviar was a playful and fitting finale.
The charming atmosphere, attentive staff, and excellent music had diners on their feet dancing between courses.
We finished with their homemade Mignardises and were given a lovely packet to take home which included a homemade scone. This restaurant is wildly civilized.
Many courses were served on beautiful handcrafted pieces from Scargo Pottery in Dennis collaboratively designed by the chef and the talented Scargo artist Tina Holl.
I offer only praise and gratitude for the extraordinary food, welcoming atmosphere, talented and artistic staff, and a dining experience that reminds us how exceptional Cape Cod dining can be. Clean Slate delivered one of the most memorable meals we've had anywhere on the Cape.