In the bustling streets of Jeddah stands a quaint bakery, where every bite tells the story of a journey that spans continents.

Passing by Der Bäcker, it would be nearly impossible to resist the aroma of its freshly baked offerings, courtesy of Rana Al Barhoumi – the young entrepreneur who, after initially planning a career in logistics, decided to take a detour into the world of German baking.

“I studied logistics at a German university and after I completed my degree, I went to one of the oldest bakery schools in the country and learned the techniques of German baking. Then I came back to Jeddah and opened my bakery, and I took this step because I’m passionate about cooking,” the executive head of Der Bäcker explains.

From her days as a student to her time as a baker, Rana’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In between, she faced her share of struggles while working as an assistant chef at a supermarket in Jordan. However, her time there, marked by the demanding task of baking over 100kg of flour in eight hours, played a pivotal role in perfecting her skills in time management, operations, and the art of utilising every moment to optimise productivity. We sat down with the culinary expert to hear more about her journey.

Early Influences

Rana's journey into the world of baking started at the age of six in the cosy confines of her mother's kitchen. Alongside her mother, she found herself exploring the alchemy of flavours and textures. Funnily enough, she never envisioned a career in baking and patisserie at that time.

Speaking of her family's influence on her passion, she mentions a recipe that continues to hold a special place in her heart – she calls it Grandma Cake. “My grandma used to make it, and now my mum makes it, and I also follow suit. It's a white vanilla cake, a very basic delight crafted from eggs, oil, flour, vanilla beans, and, of course, a touch of orange zest,” she explains.

Taste and Tradition

Deeply rooted in traditional Saudi baking and culinary arts, Rana’s fascination with German bread-making whips up a recipe for success. The techniques she learned in Germany, especially those surrounding sourdough, shaped her baking finesse.

Speaking about the invaluable tips from the baking course, she says: “The technique of sourdough is what I value the most because in Germany they make it differently and it’s really sour. They appreciate the sour taste and it’s full of probiotics – different from the French or Italian kitchen.”

Differentiating from the traditional style of breadmaking, sourdough, with its prolonged fermentation and robust flavour profile, fascinated her, setting the stage for the distinctive character of her future creations. Drawing inspiration from her lessons and combining them with a handful of her own recipes, the menu at Der Bäcker is full of delicious delights – from pretzels and freshly baked French brioche bread to healthy and keto-friendly za'atar manakish.

“I made these recipes by trying them out. I didn’t replicate anything I learned in Germany; I only took the techniques from there and created my own recipes,” Rana says. “I draw ideas from everywhere – my travels and experiences – and give them my own twist. My recent visit to Japan left me in awe of how the Japanese pack their confectionery and baked goods, and the fusion of German, French, and Japanese cultures is fascinating.”

Fusion Creations

While the ambitious chef continuously experiments with new recipes, she ensures that her baking retains its Saudi identity. “On certain occasions like Ramadan, we try to create a fusion of Saudi and German baking, so that we don’t lose our touch. We don’t go for 100% Saudi items, but we add a local touch because we cannot lose our identity. We make croissants with dates, infuse flavourful cardamom into bread, and also offer a choice of frozen dough that can be easily used to make bread at home during Ramadan,” she says.

Rana’s bakery menu may boast an array of delectable treats, but what stands out the most is her continuous effort to learn and share her knowledge of the patisserie world. Her fascination with the chemistry of bread and the interaction of substances inside the dough translates into her baking classes. She holds these regularly for youngsters, as well as anyone looking to start their baking journey.

Simple Pleasures

Within the walls of her bakery, one recipe emerges as the undisputed star – the buttery, milky croissant. What makes it triumph over the others is the absence of eggs and its substitution with rich butter and milk. Despite being an elite baker, Rana says her go-to comfort bake would be a batch of burger buns or a tiramisu. However, to impress the skilled chef, it would take a really good loaf of sourdough.

Recipe for Success

Rana’s journey from Germany to the Kingdom is full of diverse influences. She continuously borrows from different food cultures but also blends her creations with elements of Saudi cuisine – making a perfect concoction of tradition and innovation.

Needless to say, a thriving career demands dedication. However, this chef knows how to maintain balance. When she’s not immersed in the world of flour and dough for 16-18 hours a day, she turns to meditation and yoga, finding solace in moments of reflection and mindfulness.

For all those young and aspiring chefs, she has a word of caution: “You need to have experience in your field. A lot of people jump in without any. I worked as an assistant chef at a bakery shop, so that gave me a lot of experience. Practice is important.”

Peering into the future, whether it’s the German pretzels stuffed with spinach and peas, French baguettes, sourdough loaves, or keto bread, Rana’s commitment to diversity and quality is her identity among a world of bakers. For this young chef, there’s no stopping as she plans to expand and venture into different horizons.

“In the next five years, I aim to go bigger and bigger, and also study baking techniques and chemicals. But I’m also looking to expand in the food and beverages section. We are also expanding in the Kingdom and beyond,” she says.

@derbacker.sa

Prince Saud Al Faisal Street, Jeddah 23423

rana-al-barhoumi