Shaq is back in his new favorite “paradise” but has fallen for their cuisine first. When you’re a seven-footer with a legacy as big as your appetite, it’s no surprise that your love for food would go hand-in-hand with the iconic moments you create. From classic comfort dishes to exotic delicacies, Shaquille O’Neal’s taste buds have been on quite a journey. And now, fans notice an interesting twist—Shaq seems to have found a new favorite dessert in Abu Dhabi.

In a recent YouTube video, Shaq promotes a popular Abu Dhabi store by the name of Al Sultan Sweets, a dessert shop specializing in Middle Eastern sweets, particularly baklava. His enthusiasm for these sugary, flaky treats was clear as he sampled an assortment of pastries and declared them his favorite. “Golden Brown, layered to perfection. These sweets melt in your mouth. Trust me, the mixed Baklava from Al Sultan Sweets in Abu Dhabi are a certified favorite,” said Shaq in the video.

But this new choice comes as a surprise to many longtime fans who remember the athlete’s well-documented love for banana pudding, a dessert that symbolized his former relationship with Shaunie O’Neal. During an interview with Shaq and Shaunie at ABC News, the then-wife had revealed that when they returned home very late after games and did not want to have a full meal, they would snack on brownies with vanilla ice cream, fried chicken drummettes with French fries, banana pudding or Ray’s Famous extra cheese pizza.

As he celebrated his newfound love for baklava, Shaq’s Abu Dhabi dessert promotion underscores a significant shift in his tastes and preferences. But this isn’t Shaq’s first food love story. Growing up, he shared a deep bond with his mother, Lucille O’Neal, who was known to make him famous Lil Shaq Easy Mac which is macaroni and cheese made with three kinds of cheese and topped with crunchy cheese crackers. The seven-footer is so fond of his mother’s recipe that even his own fast-food chain ‘Big Chicken’s’ whole menu was created under her supervision.

So, whether it’s Southern comfort or Middle Eastern decadence, Shaq’s love for food continues to connect with fans around the globe. His latest endorsement may have shifted from banana pudding to baklava, but one thing is clear: Shaq’s passion for sweets is as strong as his presence on the court. However, there is s reason why he endorsed the Abu Dhabi sweet shop in the first place.

Shaq’s another food campaign in Abu Dhabi

Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t in Abu Dhabi to slam dunk but he was there to savor the city’s vibrant food culture. For Abu Dhabi’s latest tourism campaign, Shaq ditched his basketball shoes for traditional Emirati dining. In another video under the ‘Visit Abu Dhabi’ campaign, the Lakers icon joined locals around a shared table to explore the rich flavors of Emirati cuisine.

Each episode of ‘Street Bites with Shaq‘ sees his larger-than-life personality immersed in the city as he explores eight different foodie hotspots. In the first episode, Shaq visits Al Dhafra restaurant, an authentic Emirati cuisine spot, with a group of Emirati locals, where he’s introduced to lamb ghouzi, a traditional dish.

“The rice, lamb and spices come together perfectly. I had to eat slower than usual to savor the taste. The ghouzi from Al Dhafra restaurant belongs on every highlight reel. No wonder it’s an urban treasure,” said Shaq in the video.

As per the National, future videos will feature him eating luqaimat, or sweet dough ball with date syrup which he describes as “mini basketballs” from Luqaimat and Chebab. This culinary journey showcased a side of Shaq that goes beyond the court, adding yet another dimension to his persona while drawing global attention to Abu Dhabi’s rich food and its deep-rooted traditions.