For Zeek Rays, it all began with a chocolate bar.
But not just any old chocolate bar.
This was a TikTok darling virtual Dubai chocolate bar.
“I started with that in mid-2024,” the owner of Ice Sssscreamin’ in Cape Coral said. “I knew about Dubai chocolate early on. The recipe was easy for me to replicate.”
It’s essentially a chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream, tahini (a Middle Eastern condiment made from roasted and ground sesame seeds) and kataifi (a crispy, shredded phyllo dough).
“I use the finest ingredients,” Rays said. “I had the phyllo dough since I was already making baklava. I make my own pistachio sauce. For the right taste, you have to get the right pistachios.”
From Dubai chocolate bars to strawberry cups
Word soon spread about these trendy chocolate bars at this small and incredibly friendly South Cape ice cream shop.
Rays moved into this new space, a former real estate office, a few doors down from Iguana Mia on Cape Coral Parkway in late 2023.
For years, Ice Sssscreamin’ had been a staple one mile west along the parkway, in the freestanding building now occupied by Mr. Ice Guy.
“This location is in the heart of Cape Coral,” Rays said at the time of the move. “I’m blessed. It’s my new home. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. My customers are loving it.”
It first became known for its ice cream, sundae specials (think Oreo, apple pie, Reese’s, death by chocolate, tiramisu, Key lime and much more), shakes, banana splits and ice cream sandwiches.
Rays designed the wonderfully inviting space himself, with a vibrant wall-length ice cream-themed mural, black and white checked floor and plenty of low-top tables with pastel-colored chairs. A far display case houses a variety of baklava (from cute one-bite Dubai bird’s nests to the “mother of all baklava” Turkish wheel), while the long L-shaped main cases are chock-full of dozens of flavors of ice cream.
A kids’ game and candy room fills a back space. And if you’re feeling lucky (and even if you’re not), try your hand at the 10-second game in the main dining room — stop the timer at exactly 10 seconds and get any menu item for free, including an extra-large Dubai chocolate strawberry cup (ordinarily priced at $39.99) if you wish.
Speaking of that strawberry cup …
After the chocolate bars built a following, Rays “went ahead with the Dubai chocolate strawberry cup.”
“That’s what they call hitting the jackpot,” he said. “People go crazy for it. We sell more of it than ice cream.”
The layered creation, served in a cup, basically consists of fresh strawberries, melted chocolate, pistachio cream and kataifi.
Rays adds edible gold to his for “the best presentation.”
And thanks to a TikTok post about it and Ice Sssscreamin’ by Dayana Bakes, Rays’ version has gone viral with 775,000 page views and counting.
“We sold close to 100 of these (on a recent Saturday),” Rays said. “I can’t keep up with strawberries. There was a line out the door after it posted.”
In those lines, Rays says, are a lot of young women and girls bringing their families and friends in to try it.
And once they do, they’re hooked.
“It’s the taste,” he said. “I truly love the combination of flavor and texture. It’s addictive. You will see once you try it.”
It’s crunchy and cool, sweet and chocolaty.
And it doesn’t stop at the bars and cups.
Rays has a full menu of Dubai chocolate offerings, including donuts, banana splits, brownies, sundaes, ice cream, waffles/crepes and even cheesecake and espresso.
“People know if they want Dubai chocolate, they can come here,” he said. “We bring Dubai to Cape Coral.”
And while the trend has been around since 2023, Rays doesn’t see it going away anytime soon.
“It’s a phenomenon,” he said. “The trend has been going on awhile, and I guarantee it’s here to stay.”
Judging by the consistent line wrapping around his counter, Rays just may be right.
Ice Sssscreamin’, 1017 Cape Coral Parkway, Shop A, Cape Coral; (239) 541-9100; icescreaminswfl.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Trending Dubai strawberry cups, chocolate have this Cape Coral ice cream shop going viral
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
