Dessert meets design

The Filipino pastry innovator behind Dubai’s viral pistachio chocolate returns home with a limited two-week collaboration

- YVETTE TAN

Chef Nouel Catis, most known for creating the viral Dubai chocolate, has been a creative force in the Middle Eastern dessert scene since 2016.

Available for two weeks only, Chef Nouel collaborated with Miele Philippines and Chef Ely Salar of Patisserie Le Choux-Calat to create a trio of desserts for Miele's Innovation Series.

"This partnership is actually something that has kind of happened before, with me being a fan of Miele. Now that I'm doing this, it's coming full circle. This is more of me showcasing my other side, not just chocolate, but more of innovating using techniques and ideas based on technology," Chef Nouel said.

"We launched the Miele Innovation Series to highlight aspiring entrepreneurs and chefs in the industry who really have a statement to make, and also showcase innovation and creativity in the products that they produce," Angela Sy, Focus Global CFO, added. "We wanted to give them a physical space to showcase their products and to bring their unique techniques and flavors to the Philippine market."

The three pastries are available during the popup, which runs until Nov. 6 at the Miele Flagship Showroom in BGC. "We curated the desserts... [with]... innovation as the overriding principle. We have an element of Filipino and German in every dessert," Chef Nouel said.