Oh My Darling Clementine®

Walking into Clementine is a change of pace; nothing like a bright but minimalist concept to get you appetite going. There are various environments to choose from and you can sit in any of them and be treated like royalty:

• The outside front terrace is set up to offer great flow of service and the red brick entrance will amazingly enough, soften the bustle of the city traffic.
• Inside settings are both a general, public area where you’ll find a floating bookcase filled to the brim with some of the best baking and pastry arts books in the industry and the continuing wall on the right is home to their small offering of pre-packages snacks such as: Financiers, Madelines, Freshly Made Vanilla Sugar, Herb Infused Oils and so much more. It’s a perfect spot to grab a last minute gift for a fellow foodie.
• There’s also a private room I had a glimpse of, to the left of the main area and it’d be a perfect place to host a private luncheon or brunch with friends. Hey! Even foodie business meetings since like a good idea in there! 
• Back Terrance is a great spot to spend a lazy afternoon with a friend, sip on some drinks (since they have a fully stocked bar) as well as graze on their desserts. 

 Clementine is not only a pastry shop, but they boast a full menu including Breakfasts, Soups, Sandwiches, Pastas, and anything in between. I noticed they also had a bread area but didn’t taste any of them because I focused on choosing one dessert and coffee. This was supposed to be my “detox” day and it didn’t happen. Let’s just say I’m addicted to food and can’t give it up that easily. We ordered Cappuccinos (no whipped cream) and a Chocolate Passion Fruit dessert; we were also gracefully treated to Pistachio Macaroons and a traditional “Milhojas” by one of Clementine’s talented chefs.

Chocolate-Passion Fruit Heaven: an unusual combination but it pairs wonderfully. The tartness of the Passion Fruit with the sweetness of the Chocolate is a great balance and there’s a Coconut crust to round it all out. Covered in a Chocolate glaze, it’s literally a pleasure when you slide your spoon the the center of it and take that first bite. The sides of your mouth tingle in the tartness and you’re left with a velvety smooth cream. Coconut adds to the contrasting textures. It’s a small treat that will satisfy the biggest sweet tooth! 

“Milhojas” which literally translates to “A Thousand Leaves” is a traditional Spanish dessert with layers of puff pastry and either whipped cream, meringue or pastry cream and dusted with a hefty amount of powdered sugar. This was was on point. Freshly made, the puff pastry was crispy and flaky, leading structure to the layers of vanilla flavored pastry cream. Light flavors and a perfect touch after eating the previous explosion of flavors (Chocolate/Passion Fruit).

 
That last picture to your right is probably my favorite, because you can see all the elements of a delicious afternoon!  Delicious coffee with a healthy dash of cinnamon (did you know Cinnamon is a great source of anti-oxidants?), a Pistachio Macaroon (did you know Macaroons are a great source of happiness?) and Chocolate-Passion Fruit (did you know….chocolate ROCKS?!)

All in all, a visit to Clementine is a must if you are in Santo Domingo. Their service is attentive but well-balanced, their desserts are pretty amazing and the ambiance makes it the perfect spot to get away from the city, relax, have a drink and enjoy their complete menu!