#dubai-chocolate

#dubai-chocolate

Salted caramel isn't going away. Neither is the hot honey trend. Ditto for Dubai chocolate. At least that's our unofficial prediction. We're basing that on the number of candy makers, bakers and national brands dabbling in crunchy pistachio and chocolate these days. And on the number of folks who are already pistachio lovers. And on the mainstream marketing efforts. We've seen the bars sold recently at a farm stand, a gas station counter and a big-box store checkout line.

Pickle-flavored everything: Enough already. We don't need pickled lemonade, Warheads sour pickles, pickle gum or pickle-flavored potato chips. (Never mind - pickle-flavored chips are still good.) But the pickle craze is following the same trajectory as the early-2000s bacon boom: fun at first, then irritating, then exhausting. At some point, you stop celebrating a good thing and start ruining it by forcing it into places it doesn't belong (bacon soda, we're looking at you).

BJ's Restaurants: The Huntingon Beach chain is offering two limited-time Pizookies. The Monkey Bread Pizookie is back. And there's a Dubai Chocolate Pizookie features a chocolate cookie and vanilla ice cream topped with pistachio sauce and sprinkled with toasted kataifi. There's also a Dubai Chocolate Espresso Martini. bjsrestaurants.com Corky's Kitchen & Bakery: Specials through the end of the year include pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin shakes and a Pumpkin Scookie, "part scone, part cookie." c orkyskitchenandbakery.com

The original and now-classic Dubai chocolate bar was created by Fix Chocolatier in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, and by 2023 had exploded on social media. Rich and indulgent, it features a thick, milk chocolate shell usually encasing a creamy pistachio (and often tahini) filling mixed with crispy, shredded, phyllo-like pastry called kadayif. Global brands and small bakers alike are riffing on the concept, translating it to croissants, milkshakes and more. Fillings range from peanut butter and jelly to s'mores to matcha.

In June, Daniel Korson, the founder of Richmond-based Coracao Chocolate, was at the Specialty Food Association's Fancy Food Show in New York and found there was no escaping the Dubai chocolate craze. Long in the chocolate industry, Korson said he can't remember another chocolate trend that has taken hold quite like this one, which piqued his curiosity. But Korson gave up cane sugar long ago. And he doesn't eat gluten or dairy either, so as much as he was intrigued, he couldn't try it himself.

The viral Dubai chocolate sensation that has been taking social media by storm has officially made its way to American fast-casual dining. Bruxie, the beloved "culinary casual" concept known for its innovative comfort food creations, is capitalizing on one of 2024's hottest food and beverage trends with the launch of their most indulgent artisanal shake yet: the Dubai Chocolate Shake.