By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Drawing on the magic of Roald Dahl’s iconic children’s novel and the Gene Wilder-led movie by the same name, Chef Luke Mangan’s latest creation is a real grown-up golden ticket moment that invites you to step into a world of pure imagination, inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Just like Charlie Bucket, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee, sweet-tooths are being sent on a search to find The Golden Chocolate Bar - a limited-edition dessert experience that recently launched at Luke’s Kitchen, Kimpton Margot.
Images Credit: Chiabwut Sutthamaythee.
Step into Luke Mangan’s world of pure imagination with the Golden Chocolate Bar — a luxurious dessert hiding $50,000 in prizes, from fine dining to cruises. A grown-up Willy Wonka adventure awaits in Sydney.
Think rich chocolate, Oompa Loompa-worthy theatrics and hidden treasures worth more than $50,000 tucked inside a handcrafted indulgence that beckons diners to dream and discover a playful whimsiness worthy of a Wonka wonderland.
Each bar is a beautifully formed block, gleaming with glossy luxury. However, the real thrill is inside: a rich chocolate mousse that may or may not conceal a molten salted caramel centre. Crack open the right one to see whether you’ve hit the honey-ed jackpot - as well as a scratch card revealing prizes ranging from intimate three-course dinners for two to exclusive superyacht dining experiences with Luke himself, and even a four-day cruise with Carnival Cruise Line Australia.
With only 10 bars holding these coveted surprises across Luke’s Kitchen, Luke’s Bistro and Bar in the Sydney Domestic Qantas Terminal and Luc-San in Potts Point, it’s a grown-up version of searching for golden tickets in a whimsical world that could certainly do worse than embrace Lickable Wallpaper, Snozzberries, Fizzy Lifting Drinks and Everlasting Gobstoppers!
"It’s about creating moments that spark connection and conversation,” says Luke. "I have always loved the magic of food and how it can take you back to your childhood. For me, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and a packet of Tim Tams were those little moments of wonder growing up.
"So, when we came up with the Golden Chocolate Bar, I wanted it to have that same sense of excitement and nostalgia. Something playful that would surprise you when you crack it open!
"We want people to feel joy and anticipation like a kid again but in the best grown-up way. That moment of cracking the bar is meant to be shared, photographed and remembered.”
Luke’s love of childhood favourites shaped every detail. "We played around with a few different ideas and flavours. I was tempted by a citrus twist with one but chocolate always wins! With that salted caramel, what more could you want?! It is an indulgent, familiar and universally loved.”
Yet, the bar doesn’t just taste delicious; it’s a multi-sensory delight. Strikingly beautiful for a filter-free snap and texturally playful for your palate, it turns dessert into the kind of drama that Grandpa Joe loved!
Not every bar contains the golden ooze, so each bite is a gamble - a little adrenaline rush reminiscent of unwrapping candy bars as a kid and imagining what wonders might await inside.
"It’s about taking dining beyond the plate,” says Luke. "We wanted to recreate that thrill for adults but in a luxe and elevated way, while maintaining that essential fun factor that makes dining memorable.”
From mastering the chocolate shell to crafting the creamy interior, the creation process was a careful balance of precision and playfulness. "It took a few months,” admits Luke. "Getting that shiny shell is harder than you think and there have been a few broken shells and not-so-pretty attempts!
"For the winning bar, we want an oozing caramel river when it cracks open! Getting the perfect temperature for that ooze before the melt was hard!”
This persistence paid off. Luke’s team engineered a bar that is as much a showpiece as it is a sweet treat. The mousse inside is soft and luxurious, contrasted by the snap of the chocolate shell, while the salted caramel injects a splash of spectacle, turning each discovery into a visually striking made-for-the-gram melt-in-your-mouth moment.
"We think we have really nailed this one!” laughs Luke.
"In the end, I wanted it to be more than just a pretty picture for socials. We wanted to deliver on flavour and give people that feeling of being an excited kid again. It isn’t often we have that anymore!” Luke adds.
The Golden Chocolate Bar will be available on the a la carte menu at select Luke Mangan and Co venues and special events. Limited to late October 2025, or until all 10 golden tickets have been claimed, the bar is a delicious indulgence for anyone who has ever daydreamed about finding a golden ticket, channelled their inner Charlie Bucket or simply wanted to taste chocolate in the most magical way possible.
