Family heritage and an understanding of Middle Eastern tastes have propelled pastry chef Nouel Catis Omamalin’s chocolate bar, Fix Dessert Chocolatier, into the spotlight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A video featuring the bar recently went viral, garnering millions of views on social media.
Nouel Catis Omamalin, a Filipino pastry chef, drew inspiration from his childhood desserts such as biko, cuchinta, and halo-halo to create the Fix bar. Blending these familiar tastes with regional flavors from Dubai, Omamalin launched the chocolate bar in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its initial lack of success, the Fix bar surged in popularity following a TikTok video uploaded in July that showcased the dessert, leading to widespread sharing and commentary across various social platforms.
“It had been three years since the Fix bar was released to the market in Dubai, but it didn’t take off. I almost gave up until last July when a TikToker uploaded a video of herself eating the Fix bar. Then, boom, it was rapidly and widely shared, liked, and commented on across various social media platforms,” Omamalin stated on September 2.
The Fix bar is a distinct blend of dates pudding, dates caramel, custard, and almond streusel. Omamalin’s Egyptian teammate, Sarah Hamouda, originally suggested the concept of creating a chocolate bar that served as a dessert. Leveraging his family heritage in baking and his understanding of traditional Middle Eastern desserts, Omamalin crafted the Fix bar to reflect both cultures.
“It’s like recalling my favorite desserts from when I was young – biko, cuchinta, halo-halo. Then I researched the equivalent favorite desserts in Dubai and was able to shape the flavors into the Fix bar,” Omamalin explained. This innovative dessert has since been embraced by people in the Middle East for its unique taste, which resonates with their cultural palette and childhood memories.
Omamalin’s journey began in Dipolog, where he received his primary and secondary education and sold his mother’s baked goods to schoolmates during recess. He pursued higher education in Hospitality Management at the University of the Philippines and further honed his skills in pastry and baking at the French Culinary Institute and L’École du Grand Chocolat Valrhona in southeastern France. His professional career has seen him take on roles at various prestigious establishments, including Sofitel Fiji Resort, Kempinski Hotel, Fairmont Hotel, and Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
After parting ways with Hamouda, Omamalin founded Nouel Catis Consultancy, offering dessert recipes to culinary enthusiasts in the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. His advice to young Filipinos in the culinary field is to “be the trend,” emphasizing curiosity, innovation, and loyalty to one’s heritage. “The most enjoyable part is that you can eat your mistakes,” Omamalin humorously concluded.
Chef Nouel Catis Omamalin’s story underscores the power of resilience, innovation, and cultural pride. His Fix bar is a testament to the fusion of Filipino and Middle Eastern culinary traditions, gaining well-deserved recognition through the dynamic reach of social media.
Source: Rappler