Chef Hava Garbuz Relocates from Tel Aviv to Kibbutz Dining Hall
Chef Hava Garbuz, daughter of the late artist and publicist Yair Garbuz, has transitioned from Tel Aviv's culinary scene to manage the dining hall at Kibbutz Sde Boker in the Negev desert. This move marks a significant shift for Garbuz, who spent years working in renowned Tel Aviv restaurants like 'Orna and Ella' and trained in Paris before returning to Israel to work in various eateries.
Garbuz, who will turn 50 soon, described her new role as unexpected, stating she would have laughed if someone had predicted it. She now oversees the preparation of meals for the kibbutz's kindergarten children and its residents, feeding up to 200 people daily. Despite the demanding physical work, she finds the role deeply satisfying, aligning with her view that food's primary purpose is nourishment.
The decision to move to the desert with her partner was driven by a desire for a change of environment. While her partner considered the Arava region, Garbuz favored Sde Boker for its proximity to Tel Aviv. She discovered the opening for a cook on the kibbutz's website and, after convincing the community manager of her potential beyond just kindergarten meals, took on the challenge of revitalizing the kitchen.
Garbuz also reflected on her father, the late Yair Garbuz, describing him as deeply Jewish despite his secular views and prolific engagement with Jewish tradition, history, and art. She noted that this Rosh Hashanah marks the first holiday without him. She expressed disappointment that his passing received no official recognition from cultural ministries or municipalities where he lived, worked, or was born, suggesting it reflects a broader lack of attention to culture in Israel.
She addressed her father's controversial "minority speech" incident, calling it a personal trauma and a deep wound. Garbuz emphasized that her father was not racist or anti-Israel but the opposite, and she prefers to focus on his positive attributes rather than dwelling on the controversy.
