Dish of the week

Chocolate: A delicious pleasure with a steep price

Forget gold or diamonds – chocolate is becoming the world's most fraught luxury. The love of this treat has made it a luxury to taste and boutique chocolate makers are taking full advantage. And guess who is leading the trend? Dubai, with a unique chocolate flavor that is inspired by a Middle Eastern dessert. We also have some local heroes in the mix in the form of Artisanal Chocolatiers such as Kansas City’s own Christopher Elbow!

The Full Story

Chocolate 2.0

This July 7th, we honor chocolate – a delight tracing its lineage back millennia to ancient Mesoamerican rituals, where cacao was sacred currency. Legend whispers its European arrival on this very day in 1550, a gift from Spanish explorers. It morphed from elite elixir to everyday solace, a ritual for many (especially us devotees!).

Yet, this World Chocolate Day arrives with a markedly bitter note, particularly in Spain. Chocolate's price tag has soared to historic peaks. The culprit? A fragile lifeline stretching to West African giants like Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. There, cocoa groves are besieged: ravaged by the swollen shoot virus and choked by climate chaos – droughts and erratic rains strangling the supply.

The numbers sting: Cocoa futures have rocketed past $12,000 a tonne, shattering the old norms of $2,000-$4,000. The ripple effect is undeniable – bars shrink, recipes shift, prices climb relentlessly. Many artisan chocolatiers have simply melted away under the financial heat.

So, as we savour a piece today, let it be a mindful indulgence. Each morsel carries the weight of ancient reverence, fragile ecosystems, and a strained global dance. This year, chocolate isn't just a treat; it's a complex, costly reminder of interconnected worlds. A word to the wise: that box might just be the priciest gesture of affection you make!

How To Prepare a Valencian Paella?

Dubai Chocolate Brownies

Crunchy, creamy, fudgy brownies inspired by viral Dubai chocolate bars. This original recipe turns the original brownies into a middle eastern dessert. In Turkey they are already doing similar mixes with their own traditional dessert called Knafe, but we will reverse the roles and introduce a taste of the middle east into our own brownies.

🧾 Ingredients

Brownie Layer     
•    ¾ cup unsalted butter     
•    1 cup brown sugar     
•    2 eggs     
•    ½ cup cocoa powder     
•    ½ tsp salt     
•    1 tsp vanilla extract     
•    ¾ cup all-purpose flour

Filling Layer  
•    2 tbsp butter     
•    1 cup kadayif (shredded phyllo dough)     
•    ½ cup pistachio cream

Chocolate Ganache  
•    1 cup dark chocolate chips     
•    ½ cup heavy cream

⸻

🧑‍🍳 Instructions

1. Make the Brownies     

   1.     Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9” pan with parchment paper.   

   2.  Melt butter in the microwave, then whisk in brown sugar. Let it cool a bit.

   3.  Add eggs one at a time, then stir in cocoa, salt, vanilla, and flour.

   4. Pour into the pan and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes.

2. Make the Pistachio Filling

   1.  In a pan, melt butter. Add kadayif and toast until golden.

   2. Remove from heat, stir in pistachio cream. Set aside.

3. Make the Ganache

   1. Heat cream until just simmering. Pour over chocolate chips.

   2. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth.

4. Assemble

   1. Spread pistachio filling over the brownies.

   2. Top with chocolate ganache.

   3. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

   4.  Slice and devour.

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Not In The Mood To Cook?

If that sounds like too much work, skip the stovetop—and as a thank-you to our subscribers, enjoy an exclusive offer at a fantastic paella spot near you!

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