In Search of SXM’s Hottest Dessert
Fellow dessert-lovers, unite! Calling everyone with a sweet tooth to the third edition of our island-wide hunt for St. Maarten’s best dessert!
For this week’s sample, it was time to cross over to the other side and try some desserts Français. It was with much anticipation that I went to Grand Case – the culinary capital of the island (if not the culinary capital of the Caribbean) – to sink my teeth into a typical French treat at Rainbow Café.
Even though it was a cloudy and rainy Tuesday afternoon, the elegant restaurant overlooking the beautiful beach and views of Anguilla was still quite full, with visitors enjoying a lovely lunch.
Rainbow Café’s extensive lunch and dinner menus both offer six homemade desserts. According to the restaurant’s charismatic owner Douglas, the Choco/Caramelo is the most popular, and if you read the description, it soon becomes clear why. I mean who could resist the combination of chocolate with a salted caramel centre and nougatine sprinkles?!
However, we decided that the less well-known but at least equally delicious mille-feuille pastry with red fruits deserved its own moment in the Sugar & Spice limelight. mille-feuille literally means thousand-sheets, which refers to the puff pastry’s many layers. The traditional recipe consists of sheets of puff pastry layered with vanilla custard and generally topped with powdered sugar or fondant/icing.
The exact origins of this classic are unknown, but the dessert has been a part of French cuisine since the late 17th century. It is sometimes referred to as a Napoleon pastry; although it remains unclear if Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte actually enjoyed the cream-filled treat himself or if he was too busy with his plans for world domination.
One thing’s for sure, though, the millefeuille à la Rainbow Café is definitely a dessert fit for an emperor! The confection here consists of layers of puff pastry combined with vanilla custard, whipped cream and fresh red fruit – all homemade of course. It is served with homemade raspberry sauce, fresh raspberries and whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar, mint and lime zest.
Of course, you eat with your eyes first and the Rainbow Café sure lives up to its colourful name with this dessert’s presentation. Although the weather was rather gloomy, the vivid colours brightened the day even before I took the first bite. The flavours were simple yet refined; the sweet vanilla custard worked really well with the fresh red fruit and the tangy lime zest and mint. But it’s the amazing textures that make this treat stand out: crispy and flaky puff pastry contrasted by airy and creamy custard and whipped cream, balanced by soft and chewy red fruit. All in all, I think even Napoleon would have licked the plate!
Located on 176 Boulevard de Grand Case, Rainbow Café is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 10:30pm during high season. In low season, it’s open from Tuesday to Thursday during the daytime hours only and from 9:00am to 10:30pm from Friday to Sunday. There is valet parking available. For more information and reservations, call +590 690 88 84 44, send them an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or check out www.rainbowcafe.fr.
Does your restaurant’s dessert deserve a spot in our search for sweet treats? Send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know.
