CEO & Director, Brasserie Bread.
Danish-born Michael Klausen began cooking at the age of 12 and immediately upon leaving school he set up a successful catering business. In his early professional career Klausen worked with some of the best chefs in Denmark and broadened his culinary experience with several spells in France. Before moving to Australia in 1991 Klausen had already conceived and operated an acclaimed restaurant and hosted a TV cooking program.
On arrival in Sydney, Klausen met Tony Papas at the iconic Kings Cross restaurant, Bayswater Brasserie, where he spent five years as head chef. In 1997, Klausen and Papas opened the award-winning restaurant Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay where Klausen was Head Chef and General Manager. During this time the pair also worked hard on developing their early artisan bread recipes and commenced bread deliveries to a small number of local restaurants. In 2001 Klausen and Papas established the Brasserie Bread Company where Klausen continues to this day as CEO.
Klausen and everybody at Brasserie Bread is passionate about the quest to bake true artisan products and over the past 10 years, expert training, skill and a love of great ingredients have come together and Klausen and his team have created Australia’s leading sourdough bakery. Brasserie Bread delivers artisan breads, pastries and cakes 365 days a year to over 300 top restaurants, hotels, cafés and delis across Sydney and the ACT.
In 2005 Klausen opened Brasserie Bread's Bakery Café & retail shop and commenced their hugely popular Free Kids Baking Classes. In 2006 the café was awarded Sydney’s Favourite Café by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Living magazine. In September 2008 a dedicated Artisan Training School was opened, increasing the range of kids baking classes, school excursions and adult baking classes. Brasserie Bread has become a unique destination sought out by chefs, foodies, kids and all lovers of great food.
Today Klausen is working very hard to make healthy and tasty products available to as many people as possible, and Brasserie bread has just launched their buy online in store pick up service.
Brasserie Bread is located in Banksmeadow in an old saw-tooth warehouse a stone’s throw from the cranes of Port Botany.
