Dubai chocolate was hard to find. Iowans made it themselves.
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Dubai chocolate from Jayme Sayasane. Photos: Courtesy of Jayme Sayasane
Dubai chocolate is all the rage, and Iowa makers are crafting their own versions of the international treat.
The big picture: The chocolate craze has taken over the world, The New York Times proclaims — and it's hard not to be curious about the latest viral food craze filling our online feeds.
What it is: A thick, chocolate brick filled with pistachio butter, crispy kataifi bits (a phyllo dough) and, in some versions, tahini paste.
- It's inspired by knafeh, a popular Middle Eastern dessert.
- ASMR videos and reels showcasing the dessert have gone viral, showing people breaking the chocolate shell with the creamy filling oozing inside.
Zoom in: Jayme Sayasane, co-owner of Winn's Pizza & Steakhouse in Norwalk, struggled to find the delicacy, even traveling all the way to Mall of America to get a taste of it to no avail.
- So, she decided to make it herself at the restaurant and began selling half-pound bars for $30 each — complete with gold flakes and unique packaging.
The intrigue: The price tag hasn't deterred people, Sayasane says. Customers reach out to her through social media to order. In three days, she made 35 bars and can't keep up with the demand.
- "It's a real treat," Sayasane says. "The best part is the filling."
Kurt Witte, owner of On the Rise Bake Shop in Bondurant, also started selling his own version of the chocolate bar after seeing it on TikTok.
- He says he gets calls and emails on a daily basis about them, but the high demand has made it difficult to source the ingredients, particularly the pistachio butter and kataifi.
- He sells them at Somewhere in the Middle Coffee Shop — $10 for a small bar or $20 for a half-pound.
- "It's got this kind of insane crunch to it," Witte says. "The nutty flavor from the pistachios and the chocolate — it's quite the combo."
The bottom line: Even if you can't get your hands on a Dubai chocolate bar, you can find local variations of it.
- You'll find Dubai-inspired ice cream sometimes at Black Cat, a strawberry cup at Ocha Bubble Tea and a parfait at Kava.
- Hy-Vee also sells bars for $18, and Gursha has advertised them as well.