Meet Me at The Lanai

Last year, the Dubai chocolate trend made its rounds across social media—those glossy, rich, decadent chocolate bars dusted in gold and filled with creamy layers. I had no intention of jumping on the trend train… until a little spark of inspiration came from the most unexpected (and delightful) place. While working on the hit show St. Denis Medical, my awesome co-worker, Laura, passed along a fun message from one of the show’s stars, Kahyun Kim. She was curious if I could make her a Dubai-style chocolate bar. Now, I don’t specialize in chocolates—but the idea intrigued me. I did a little digging and randomly came across a recipe for Dubai chocolate brownies. They looked indulgent, velvety, and topped with that signature glossy finish. So I picked up a few ingredients, gave them a try… and it was love at first bite. The brownies were a hit. Like—instant cult favorite hit. And just like that, they earned a permanent spot on my menu. To this day, they remain one of my biggest brownie sell...