Clean Slate Eatery

My family has been visiting Cape Cod for as long as I can remember. In recent years, my folks found a rental home on Scargo Lake in Dennis that they really like - we go every couple years and spend a week together with them and my brother's family. 

Almost a decade ago, when looking for a really nice restaurant to take my parents to, we discovered Clean Slate Eatery. This tiny establishment serves a unique tasting menu and only accommodates around a dozen people for a single seating every night. They closed down during COVID and though it took a few years, this very special gem is back up and running.

Clean Slate Eatery
702 MA-28, West Dennis, MA

Caviar

Egg Salad, Pringles "Straight From The Can"

Drinks

Oyster

Horseradish Granita

Blueberries

Orange Curd

Embarrassingly, I forgot when asked over the phone if any in our party had any dietary restrictions, that Leah was pregnant. So the first thing she said when we sat down was that she couldn't have any raw fish, which sent the chef into a bit of a panic. They were able to put this little bit together at the last minute for her instead of the oyster, which was greatly appreciated. 

Bread

Sourdough Focaccia, Cultured Butter

Bluefin Tuna Toast

Tamari Cured Egg Yolk, Yuzu Kosho, Coconut Butter, Kombu Oil, Togarashi Pickled Watermelon Rind, Toasted Milk Bread

Eggplant

Za'atar Spiced Roasted Fairytale Eggplant, Sweet Corn Nage, Tarator, Sumac Onions

Lobster

Tail a la Plancha, Sungold Tomato Brodo, Claw & Mascarpone Mousse Tortellini

Cape Codder

Vodka, Cranberry, Lime

Bon Bon

Chocolate, Foie Gras

"Chicken Fried Steak"

American Wagyu Eye Round, Sausage Gravy, Potato Purée, Shishito Pepper, Chicken Skin Jam

Tête de Moine

Honey Pumpernickel, Heirloom Carrot, Raspberry, White Verjus, Smoked Almond Tuile

Caraïbe Chocolate Custard

Passionfruit Ice Cream, White Chocolate Ganache, Dark Chocolate Sponge, Hazelnut Shell

Chocolate Cake

Caviar, White Chocolate Ganache, Tuille

Mignardises

Strawberry Pâte de Frui

Vanilla Merengue

Peach Muffin

Montreal 2026 - Day 4: Yum Yum Soup Dumpling, Bar le Mal Nécessaire, Au Pied de Cochon

For our final day of the trip, Leah and I enjoyed a relaxed afternoon strolling through the city, followed by one last evening outing. 


Yum Yum Soup Dumpling
3887 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal, QC

We wanted to do something casual and less over-the-top for lunch, so Leah and I visited the fantastic Yum Yum Soup Dumplings for a perfect (and shockingly affordable vs NYC prices) lunch. 

Kimchi

Soup Dumplings
Pork & Chive
Beef & Cilantro

Bar le Mal Nécessaire
1015 Rue St-Alexandre, Montreal, QC

The Necessary Evil repeatedly came up as another must-visit cocktail bar, so we added it to our itinerary for this evening. It was an early night out, so we arrived just as they opened and had the whole place to ourselves. The cocktails were very creative and very delicious. 

Drinks - Round 1
Masala Mule: Bombay Sapphire Gin, Green Apple Juice, House Curry Blend, Ginger, Lacroix Lot 300 Apple Cider
Strong Water: Hennessy Cognac VS, Saint James Rhum Agricole, Licor 43, Chai, Macadamia Nuts, Lime


Snacks
Pretzels & Peanuts
Olives

Drinks - Round 2
Le Mal Nécessaire: Pike Creek 10-Year Rye, Drambuie, Fernet Branca, Pineapple, Lime, Coriander Seed, Bowmore 12-Year Scotch
MNOF: Appleton Estate 8-Year Rum, Havana Club 7-Year Rum, Bumbu Original Spiced Rum, Fermented Hot Honey, Falernum Bitters

Drinks - Round 3
Coco Supremo: Leblon Cachaça, Bacardi Superior Rum, Coconut Cream, Mango, Horchata

Au Pied de Cochon
536 Duluth Est, Montreal, QC

Our final stop of the trip was at probably my favorite restaurant in the world, the OG Au Pied de Cochon. The food is always crazy and we love the lively atmosphere. 

Gnocco Frito
Porchetta, Gribiche Sauce, Anchovy

Cromesqui
Foie Gras, Truffle

Stuffed Cabbage "à la Royale"
Offal, Foie Gras, Sauce Civet, Berries

Veal Brain
Lemon Butter, Potatoes, Parsley, Bread

This was my third time eating brain and it was very much my least favorite instance. I love unusual food but this was a bit of a bridge too far even for me. The flavor was great, but I couldn't get over the texture, which was very soft - almost seemingly raw. The other two times I've had brain, the texture was closer to soft scrambled eggs, whereas this was almost gelatinous. It didn't help that Leah was completely uninterested, so I was left to finish this whole plate myself - which I did of course.

Paccheri
Tuna Puttanesca, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Breadcrumbs

This insane tuna dish might be the best thing we ate all trip. I know it's not uncommon to make tuna into Bolognese-style sauce before, but this was really above and beyond anything like it I've ever eaten. 

Dessert - Round 1
Beignets: Sugar Cream, Maple Syrup
Maple Pudding Chômeur: Foie Gras, Cheddar

Dessert - Round 2
Maple Tartelette: Blue Cheese

I had seen other tables getting this blue cheese tart throughout the evening and had my heart set on getting it. Leah doesn't love blue cheese though, so I insisted we get one to go. I'm glad we did, as it was absolutely spectacular - even Leah ended up loving it!

Montreal 2026 - Day 3: Strøm Spa Nordique, Atwater Cocktail Club, Joe Beef

After the previous evening's extravagantly indulgent dinner, Leah and I scheduled some R&R for our next morning, followed by...another extravagant and indulgent evening.


Strøm Spa Nordique
101 Bd de la Forêt, Verdun, QC

We always look forward to visiting Strøm on our Montreal trips. It's a really relaxing way to spend the day and the food in their restaurant is surprisingly great. 

Drinks
KEW Cocktails Nordic Iced Tea
Cappuccino


Artisan Platter
Local Cheese, Meat & Fish Charcuterie, Condiments, Croutons

Nordic Shrimp Remoulade
Gin Yogurt, Iceberg Lettuce, Green Goddess Dressing, Pickled Pear, Furikake


Smoked Duck
Sunchokes Three Ways, Confit Onions, Sour Cherries

Whisky Baba
Coureur des Bois Maple Cream Whisky, Black Currant Marmalade, Parsnip Cream, White Chocolate, Coffee


Confit Apple Tart
Frangipane, Squash Cream, Nordic Hazelnut Crumble, Caramel-Labrador Tea Ice Cream

Atwater Cocktail Club
512 Av. Atwater, Montreal, QC

We were hugely impressed by Atwater Cocktail Club on our previous visit, so we made a point of returning. Some of the drinks served here, notably La Chichera, were among the most memorable and creative we enjoyed all year. Dinner was scheduled a bit later this evening, so we ordered a few small plates to ensure our stomachs weren't too empty. 

Drinks - Round 1
24 Karot: Convite Esencial Mezcal, Aperol, Lillet, Herbal Liqueur, Smoked Carrot, Lime, Honey, Winter Spice Foam
La Récolte: Stoli Vodka, Calvados, Pandan, Chinese Dates, Coconut Milk, Butter Cookies, Dulce de Leche, Lemon

Drinks - Round 2
La Chichera: Planteray Original Dark Rum, Guava, Lime, Chicha Morada, Coffee Infused Coconut Oil
Where's Waldorf: Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur, Stoli Vodka, Lemon, Honey, Blue Cheese, Walnut, Pollen

Eggs Mayonnaise

Pork Rilletes

Drinks - Round 3
Sober Island: NOA Amaretto, Lychee Tea, Blood Orange, Lemon, Egg White
Lafayette: Patrón Reposado Tequila, Armagnac, Martini Riserva Rubino, Bénédictine, Clingstone Peach & Kensington Bitters, Absinthe

Joe Beef
2491 Rue Notre Dame O, Montreal, QC

Yet another hit from a previous trip, we also returned to Joe Beef. I often avoid ordering a restaurant's "signature" dish, as I often find it's more of a general crowd-pleaser than something especially unique. In this case though, I was thrilled with the lobster spaghetti, which might be the best version of this type of pasta dish I've ever had. 

Blood Sausage Tarte

Seafood Platter
Oysters (3 Types), Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Salad, Salmon Gravlax w/ Crème Fraîche, Salmon Roe, & Homemade A1 Sauce

Rabbit à la Royale
Truffles, Berries, Liver Sauce, Mashed Potato

Lobster Spaghetti

Marjolaine

Hazelnut Paris-Brest