Tis Me Michelle

I love a day trip! I’m perpetually single, but I do love me a solo date too. Being in Orlando makes for great access for a quick trip to Tampa/St. Pete. I’ve done it a bunch over the years whether it was to visit a museum or for a concert, and occasionally a beach. I recently took an impromptu trip to St. Pete based on… You guessed it a TikTok. It was hyping up a cafe at an art museum. This is so up my alley, it seemed unreal. I know there’s usually a cafe or restaurant at most museums, but I’ve never seen one recommended on its own. So what better way to spend the day than to have brunch at the cafe and then go to an art museum? Sounds like my perfect day!

It’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one who saw Cafe Clementine on TikTok, or it really is a hot spot. I saw people who just came to check out the cafe and others who were also museum go-ers. There was quite a line when I got there, which I think you can consider expected going during brunch time on the weekend. It was kind of long, but as it dwindled I was glad for the time so I had time to consider my order.

There were so many great options and I had no self-control. I got myself a Tofu Banh Mi Foccacia Sandwich for brunch paired with a Magic Matcha Latte. The latte was delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The sandwich on the other hand. I would have enjoyed it much more if the focaccia was warm, it’s one of those breads that’s… too bready when it’s cold and just takes over everything. I love me a banh mi, but I wasn’t a huge fan of this sandwich. It is large and filling, and a good vegetarian option.

Then of course I got plenty of goods to go. Because how was I going to settle on just one? I loved that a lot of the menu incorporated Asian flavors and seasonal flavors. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy something that sounds super basic like a banana chocolate chip muffin, but their version included sesame. I’m a big fan of sesame flavored things so I was intrigued. It was a good muffin, I always loved backed goods that let the flavors shine without being crazy sweet. There was sweetness from the chocolate chips and a great nuttiness from the sesame. Rather than the usual peanut butter & chocolate combo, the sesame was a lovely touch.

For seasonal options, I saw a few corn-flavored items. I really like corn.

I love all the forms of corn. Corn in baked and dessert form is slept on. When I saw 2 options here, I had to get them both! One was a corn brule brioche and the other was a sweet corn cookie. The idea behind the corn brule brioche was fantastic. Much like the focaccia concern I brought up, the brioche was just a bit too dense/bready. The corn brule was more of a casserole consistency, so I understand why they needed the structured bread. I would have loved it to be a version of an almond croissant – that filling in a croissant would have been what dreams are made of. It was also not that sweet, which I appreciate – borderline sweet & savory.

The corn cookie on the other hand was absolutely a sweet dessert and absolutely delicious at that. It was very undertaken and had a little bit of a cake-y consistency, which isn’t my cup of tea. I am weird, and ate the crunchy edges then put it in my oven to cook and honestly it was great. But if you love the gooey, soft centers, that wouldn’t be a problem for you.

After wandering the museum, I grabbed myself a Coconut Key Lime Colada on the way out. It was between that and the Blueberry Cobbler Chai, but that had run out for the day. The Colada was a nice refresher for a hot day in Florida. It wasn’t mind-blowing, and I definitely enjoyed my matcha more. If you are a Key Lime lover, I think you’d enjoy it.

I wish this place was a bit closer. I would totally go to just read a book or grab brunch. There are plenty of options and interesting flavors. You can go grab a coffee and bite, and if you have the time go check out the museum and make a nice lil day trip like I did.

Rating: 8.5/10