Golden Fingers: Creative Chocolate Favors For Every Occasion

Rachel Mezher is not your typical entrepreneur. A little over two years ago, the 30-something mother of two (under 2!) mustered the courage to abandon a job in HR and channel her creativity more meaningfully. Endowed with a Midas touch in all things crafts, decoration and design, Rachel launched her very own souvenir and gift shop, which she aptly named Golden Fingers – Chocolate & More.

The showroom, located on the main Mansourieh highway just across from BLOM, reflects the season's pastel colors and reminds you of what it feels like to be a kid in a candy shop. A two-tiered glass table cradles every type of filled chocolate egg in anticipation of Easter – flavors as fun as Kinder and Oreo sit alongside mature savors like Truffle and Praline (50,000 LBP/kg). This isn’t the place to show restraint. In fact, Rachel will insist you try several in a nod to the confidence she entrusts in her chocolatier.


Easter has descended upon Golden Fingers (try the chocolate egg with cheesecake filling!)

Have you perked up your home for Easter and surprise guests?


Once you can get past the edible ovoids, your eyes will fall on her intricate sample arrangements. Handmade picture frames smothered with rose petals; glass bottles wound with tweed and ribbon; trio sets of transparent jars filled with Jordanian almonds, potpourri, and wax flowers; individually wrapped chocolate in 13 versatile, ready-to-buy themes. The ideas are as limitless and customizable as you crave.

Expecting a child soon? Rachel can help create the ultimate confectionery station to dazzle all the well-wishers gracing hospital or home. In fact, as I was visiting, a momma-to-be in her ninth month popped in to check on her Batman-themed project: everything from logoed butter biscuits and chocolates to marzipan mounds and Chinese fortune cookies painted in gray, yellow, and white (black would be rather jarring for a newborn, wouldn’t it!). 


Batman-themed novelties to usher in a baby boy's birth


Rachel had sat down with the understandably finicky customer on numerous occasions to make sure that every detail was tailored to specification. At this stage, all that remains is for the parents to agree on the baby’s name so that Rachel can affix labels to each novelty.

Other popular arrangements the strawberry-blonde creative pieces together fall under the categories of baptism, First Communion, engagement and wedding, not to mention holiday occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, and Christmas. In fact, at the moment the shop is resplendent in Easter array, studded with porcelain bunnies, lacquered hens, metal pails, and blooming chicks.


Favors for every occasion, from a child's birth to First Communion

First Communion season is just around the corner!

I wouldn't even have the heart to unwrap one of these adorably-decorated chocolates!


Scanning the elaborate wedding souvenirs, what with wine corks tethered to chocolate squares with white lace (for men, there are mini bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label and 12-year-aged Dewar’s whisky bound to chocolate), I couldn't help but grow wistful that Golden Fingers hadn’t been around for my big day. Obviously, there will be other occasions on the near horizon, but still Rachel and her visionary genius could have spared me hours of anxiety and independent brainstorming.


How endearing is this! Wine cork bound with lace around floral print-wrapped chocolate

Subduing the pre-wedding jitters with a swig of whisky (and chocolate)


You have to wonder where this cheerful artist gets her motivation and where imagination metamorphoses to life. Just above the showroom perches Rachel’s atelier, a beautiful mess of her crafts, supplies, scraps, models, and works in progress. Natural light seeps through the glass panels, as though casting divine judgment on her constructions. 

Presently, her favorite elements are earthy and woodsy, complete with twigs, burlap, and twine, which emphasizes her belief in recycling material and reducing waste. As a matter of fact, Rachel asks clients to return unwanted stands and props once their special occasion has passed.


Earthy tones, woodsy elements


So what is it about Golden Fingers that’s got folks all the way from Montreal and Paris hastening to put in long-distance orders via WhatsApp? On a local scale, Rachel tells me clients discover her Facebook page and exact the arduous trek from every corner of the country, be it as south as Saida or as north as Akkar. Entranced with her designs, they seek her patient one-on-one consultations (first through phone texting, and then in person), excellent price-to-quality rapport, and unique golden touch. 

Cut ribbon and lace she might, but Rachel never cuts corners. And customers invariably leave the shop smug with security and satisfaction.

I know I did. And possibly a kilo or two heftier.


A gallery of engagement- and wedding-worthy chocolate favors




Drop by Golden Fingers - Chocolate & More and check out the elaborate Easter collection. Be sure to mention Beirutista to get some extra special lovin'!


Golden Fingers - Chocolate & More
Main Road, Mansourieh el Metn
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Business hours: M-F 10:30 am - 7 pm; Saturdays by appointment only
Tel: +961 70 123 551


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