foodpanda boasts of some of the best restaurants in Metro Manila and Cebu in its delivery line-up, with menu items which customers can’t seem to get enough of. Behind the success of these restaurants are, of course, chefs who literally leave their hearts on their plates, whipping up exquisite dishes to the satisfaction of our taste buds and tummies. foodpanda talked to one of these chefs to find out his favorite menu item and what inspired him to excel in his craft.
A chain of restaurants based in Singapore and now operating throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Brotzeit German Bier Bar and Restaurant was conceived with the aim of providing diners with authentic German food paired with world famous German beer. In the Philippines, Brotzeit is located in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong and Glorietta, Makati, but thanks to foodpanda, can also be enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home.
The man in charge of the kitchen is Culinary Director Chef Ivan Maminta, who, at the age of 16, decided he would make a career out of the art of cooking. When asked what made him decide to do so, “Out of necessity, and out of a muse,” he says. So under the tutelage of Chef Jochann Van Harten in Zurich, Switzerland, Chef Ivan, who had also studied at the Ecole Les Roches, mastered his passion.
The heartiness of German food drew him to the cuisine, with pork, beef and poultry as the main varieties of meat. In Germany, meat is usually braised, pan-fried or made into sausages—more than 1,500 types to be exact! Chef Ivan’s favorite dish to cook, however, is the Schweinhaxn, a crispy hind shank of grain fed pork knuckle, served with potato salad, sauerkraut and homemade sauce.
Chef Ivan, who looks to Chef Heston Blumenthal, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson for inspiration, recounts having won a Gold Medal at the 1997 Chefs on Parade, the longest running culinary competition in Asia, as his most memorable moment in his career so far.
He attributes his success to his genuine love for the profession, guided by the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene. When asked what it takes to be a chef, “Dedication, focus and an immense amount of attention to details,” he says. His advice for advice for aspiring chefs? “You have to make your own path.” And for Chef Ivan, the path certainly looks bright.
Brotzeit Manila
Address: 60112, Main Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, EDSA Corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong, 1550 Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mo – Su, 11.00am – 21.00pm
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