Chef Nouel Catis and the Global Dubai Chocolate Trend

In an ocean of evolving food tastes and defining trends, there are ripples and there are waves. But if there is a tsunami in the sea of chocolate, it's that on which the Dubai chocolate phenomenon rides and there are no signs of abating any time soon.

- VICKY VELOSO-BARRERA

No one could have anticipated how a simple combination of chocolate plus pistachios plus the Middle Eastern kanafe pastry would first take Dubai, then the rest of the world, by storm. Certainly not Pinoy chef Nouel Catis, who came up with this simply ingenious and delicious combination that has been imitated the world over. But it's easy to see how only someone with his insights and mindset could have developed such a winning formula.

"I coined the term 'heritage pastry chef' on my own because I found out that if you want to be authentic, you need to attach yourself to your own heritage or the heritage of the population you're serving," explains Dubai-based chef Nouel when he was in Manila recently. "My formula is to ask what resonates with this population, and when you touch on the childhood memories, you will never go wrong."

The flavor and crunch of Dubai chocolate are so appealing across cultures that even top Swiss chocolate brands like Laderach and Lindt have their take, not to mention the countless chocolate brands elsewhere that have found it wise to include a Dubai chocolate variant to help satisfy what looks like an insatiable demand. The global trend that Dubai chocolate created has led to pistachio shortages, and bakers are finding pistachio butters and pastes in short supply.

It's no surprise that the Auro Dubai Chocolate bars, made in collaboration with chef Nouel, are flying off the shelves and other local chocolatiers have their own versions. And it's not just chocolate bars or truffles. Shake Shack in the US has a Dubai chocolate-flavored shake. Here in Manila, there are many cakes inspired by the trend, with yummy versions from Chrisha's Kitchen, Caramia, Aegyo, Conti's—and those are only the ones I know of. Magnolia Bakery and Starbucks both have Dubai chocolate brownies. And social media is rife with videos and tutorials on how to make your own Dubai chocolate.