Move over, pistachio kunafa: ‘Abu Dhabi Chocolate' is coming soon, says chef behind viral flavour
KIRSTIN BERNABE (ABU DHABI)It's been a long time coming: Abu Dhabi is finally getting its own chocolate — one moulded in its own story, one that 'truly reflects its soul'. That's the promise of Nouel Catis, the chef who developed the recipe of the viral pistachio kunafa bar.In an interview with Aletihad, Catis confirmed that 'Abu Dhabi Chocolate' will be launched in two months. While he kept the flavour profile a secret, the chef described the upcoming release as a product 'that the city truly deserves'.Having lived in Abu Dhabi for seven years, Catis holds the capital close to his heart. The Filipino expat served as an inflight chef for the UAE's flagship carrier Etihad Airways for half a decade, before launching his own culinary consulting company in 2018.'I'm drawing from those memories to craft a chocolate that truly reflects the soul of Abu Dhabi and puts it on the global chocolate map,' he told Aletihad.
Distinctly Local Flavours Looking back on the collaborative brainstorming session that led to the creation of 'Dubai Chocolate', it was Catis who selected what he believed was 'the right combination of ingredients to evoke a sense of nostalgia'.'If anything, I was the chef who created the original formulation — one that became the foundation for what would later evolve into the now-famous pistachio kunafa chocolate.'In Abu Dhabi, Catis sees a vibrant community of food lovers, especially among Emiratis. He has observed a growing interest in build-your-own desserts and a love for matcha, the popular Japanese green tea powder now used to flavour all things aside from the usual beverages.Beyond the hype, however, Catis believes Abu Dhabi has many distinctly local flavours that could play a key role in upcoming food trends.'Aseeda remains a cherished dessert, along with traditional Emirati flavours like saffron, cardamom, and other warm spices,' he said. 'I believe these ingredients will continue to evolve, being reimagined and paired with more contemporary flavour profiles to keep them exciting and relevant for the next generation of food lovers.'
Pistachio Kunafa Wasn't the First Catis has been living in the UAE since 2009, following a previous post in Jordan. What many may not know is that pistachio kunafa wasn't the first viral Middle Eastern dessert that he had conceptualised. He was also behind the popular 'Baby Dynamite', for which he delivered a TEDx Talk in 2019.Catis now has two brands under his name: SNA'AP Chocolate, known for its enhanced version of 'Dubai Chocolate', and The Sweet Life, the region's first build-your-own dessert concept. Abu Dhabi Chocolate will be launched under SNA'AP.
'Abu Dhabi is ready for its own culinary story to be told through chocolate,' he said — and soon, that story will be unwrapped.
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