The yummy pork chops of Bavaria

The chef’s special pork chops at Bavaria gardens on Karuna Close, Westlands, is exactly what a chilly afternoon in Nairobi needs. The pork chops are delicious and filling without hurting your pockets.

Bavaria is an African-inspired restaurant with outdoor dining gazebos that serves up a blend of Kenyan dishes and also offers a koroga corner. 

A plate of three pork chops goes for Sh600, and they’re so juicy and tender, you can’t help but smile as your knife cuts through the meat. The chops, in full Kenyan spirit, come with a side of kachumbari, which is prepared with fresh tomatoes, onions, parsley and a little chopped chilli. Creating the perfect blend of savoury delight.

The pork chops are marinated in a mix of herbs, dark soy sauce, lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Allowing them to soak up flavours.

Worry not, there’s a selection of chops without pepper for those who can’t handle the heat. 

Afterwards, they’re wrapped with foil and cooked in a grill oven over medium to low heat, changing the sides when they turn brown till the entire meat is well cooked. 

The results are perfectly cooked pork chops that are golden and crusted on the outside and amazingly tender and juicy on the inside. The meat is a little chewy but not tough, and the perfect balance of flavours fills your mouth with every bite. 

Ugali would have been the obvious option to accompany this delicacy, but I’m all for trying out new things, thus had to give the sauté potatoes a chance. 

The potatoes come with a side of lightly steamed cabbage with margarine, mixed with turmeric powder to break off the monotonous colour of the veggies.  

The sauté potatoes are not charged as they’re an accompaniment to the pork chops. Like I said, this meal will not break your bank. They are not as soft as I’d presumed they’d be. Surprisingly a little crunchy on the outside, but still soft in the middle. 

I love the fact that they’re not as oily as most fast foods usually are. 

They prepare the potatoes by first slicing them into perfect little circles. Then they boil them till tender and afterwards shallow fry them in preheated oil until they turn golden brown. 

In a separate cooking pan, they sweat the onions till they’re brown. Then add the potatoes and parsley while stirring lightly. They let them cook for a minute and voila, the meal is ready. 

Upon request, you’re offered coastal-style chilli, which is basically chopped up chillies, garlic and onions mixed with lime juice, which kickstarts the flavours of the meal and totally warms you up. 

The meal at Bavaria gardens is a real delight, and to top it off, the restaurant has a car wash, where you can have your vehicle cleaned as you dine. I wouldn’t mind going back there for the pork chops as they were the highlight of my day.