Brotzeit

Brought to you by Seriously Delicious Food

Ah, Germany, a country whose long history and rich heritage has intertwined magically and elevated its cuisine to something that’s truly special. Pints of lager, juicy bratwursts, perfect potato salad, crispy wiener schnitzel, and more delectable ways to prepare and serve pork than I can count… from Bavaria to Berlin, a night of German dining is something to be savoured and shared.

Fortunately for hungry expats (from Germany or not) – and hey, locals too, of course! – there are a handful of great German restaurants in and around KL. Surely one of the best is Brotzeit, a Singapore-based brand which migrated north to appreciative gourmands in KL and has found well-deserved success here under the watchful guidance of German Executive Chef Helmut Murmann. We headed for the Mid Valley outlet one evening after work, and what a terrific choice that was. The food was simply delicious. It didn’t matter what we tried, from a mouthwatering bacon pizza to a brilliant salad of greens with other veggies, potato salad, and crispy chicken fillet strips, all tossed in house dressing and lashed with pumpkin seed oil, the meal got off to a rousing start for our group.

Well, it only got better from there. I need hardly mention that Brotzeit serves up an array of succulent, juicy sausages and high on the list was a foot-long pork sausage dusted with curry powder and served in a puddle of lip-smacking chilli-curry sauce. But what really put this dish completely over the top was a generous portion of quite possibly the crispiest, tastiest fried potato wedges I’ve ever had. Next up was the calling card of any German restaurant worth its salz: the mighty pork knuckle. This one was a winner. A big hind shank, cooked to perfection, crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside. But what really won our group over was the pork chop. Seared on a hot grill to seal in the juices, then finished in the oven, this chop was sublime. Served with cloud-soft mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and a delicious mushroom sauce, accented with crispy bacon, and poached apricot with cranberries, this is one chop that’s genuinely worth making the trip for all on its own. Save room for dessert too, because there is a stunning selection of creative delights from which to choose, including treats featuring lemon pepper-marinated strawberries and dark-chocolate enrobed bacon. Don’t fear it, embrace it!

Fresh-from-the-tap German beer features prominently at Brotzeit, naturally, and in addition to the selection of wheat beers and lagers they have on tap, the creative team behind the bar have whipped up a number of beer blends, some traditionally German, some a bit more localized for KL. (Mango beer, anyone?) They’re tasty and refreshing, and worth a try, but the appeal of fresh, cold, quality German beer all on its own was plenty good enough for me. Choose from Munich’s best: Paulaner Weissbier, Dunkel Hefe Weissbier, the Original Munchner Dunkel Lager, or the clear golden Original Munchner Lager. Prices for these beers are surprisingly good and they go down smooth and easy. To celebrate Oktoberfest, Brotzeit is offering a table-creaking platter that will amply satisfy a half dozen diners (or perhaps four hungry footballers), comprising a pork knuckle, grilled half-chicken, gypsy pork belly slices, lumberjack steaks, garlic sausages, potato salad, sauerkraut, and all the trimmings. Hungry yet? Then put down the magazine, seize your car keys, and head to Mid Valley for a seriously scrumptious sampling of Bavaria’s best.

First published October, 2013