Kitchen Nostalgia

An edible journey through culinary heritage reminiscent of comforting home cooking from other lands…

- Gaby Dyson

From an unassuming market town in the county of Devon, Chef, Eran Hovav, is bringing the flavours of the Middle East to the residents of the West Country. His unique catering company Eran’s Kitchen serves fresh, locally grown dishes with Yemeni and Israeli flare; while his colourful eatery The Baobab Café appears to be attracting a loyal cohort of customers...

“The baobab is the tree of life”, says Eran Hovav, as we sit in a cozy corner of the café he co-owns with his wife of 13 years, Laura. We are sipping tea and admiring the large hand-painted mural of said baobab tree that adorns the opposite wall. Eran is explaining to me why this tree became the namesake of his business.

“The tree provides you with everything and it is my role as a chef to provide you with everything that you need. Here at The Baobab Café, we’ll cater for every dietary requirement and we’re always up for the challenge of creating new dishes. It’s important that people are respected and made to feel welcome.”

Having grown up and trained in Israel, with a mixed Yemeni and Egyptian heritage, Eran is well versed in the multifaceted flavours of Middle Eastern cooking. It’s clear that he is a passionate chef with an impressive history in catering and as we chat he speaks with the kind of respect and knowledge of food that makes me aware I’m in capable culinary hands. Eran’s career has taken him across the world. From the humble beginnings as a pot washer, he has found himself catering to the rich and famous in Israeli desserts right through to growing his own sustainable vegetables in the peaceful Devonshire countryside.