Archive | Balti News

Just been to the Shahi Nan for one of their stellar Baltis. Packed out on a Sunday afternoon I opted for a balti chicken and mushroom with a garlicky nan bread. As usual superbly well balanced spices but not often talked about was the quality of chicken which was second to none. Nobody will need […]

A recent piece on regional TV evening news was highlighting the plight of ‘Indian’ restaurants badly affected by rising costs. Typically, the introductory lead in was on the back of the term ‘Balti’. True to form this was followed by shots of frying pans, shiny serving dishes and some psychedelic colouring. Bangladeshi it might have been […]

Sad to hear about the passing Ali Aslam, owner of Glaswegian restaurant Shish Mahal and creator of the iconic Chicken Tikka Masala. It is interesting to note that Ali’s roots were in Pakistan as were the Birmingham creator of the equally iconic Balti, Mohammed Arif, owner of Adil. So much for ‘Going for an Indian […]

I was recently asked about whether I knew of any genuine Balti restaurants in London. As none sprung to mind I decided to do some research so after googling ‘Balti’ and ‘Brick Lane’ (the supposed epicentre of the  London curry scene) I phoned a restaurant in Brick Lane called the ‘Eastern  Eye  Balti House‘. On questioning […]

Ex Blues cult hero and Senegalese manager Alou Cisse is in the news with their match against England imminent.  Interestingly there is a balti connection which occurred when the now closed Royal Naim added an Alou Balti to raise money for the ferry disaster victims which tragically affected his family.  Highlights of the Balti included […]

This was an enjoyable visit to the Spice Merchant, one of Kings Heath’s only two genuine balti houses. Early signs were good with prompt service in very comfortable surroundings. My aubergine pakora was fresh and tasty with just the right amount of batter. My main was a Balti Chicken with chunks of tender chicken languishing […]

The fight to get the genuine balti recognised and protected goes on. UNESCO run a scheme under their cultural banner which includes the universally popular,(?) Azerbaijan Flatbread being recognised. Bids have to be sponsored by central government and an approach to DCMS met with the response that they would be interesting in supporting. a bid […]

Shababs became the first balti house in the Balti Triangle to introduce ‘alfresco’ dining, albeit fleetingly, when the blogger ‘Rate My Takeaway’ visited the Balti Triangle. Obviously a man with a big appetite, he certainly seemed to enjoy his unique experience!

Another journey across the City to visit an old favourite … The Khyber Pass. A warm welcome, good service and excellent food. Starters were chicken tikka and onion bhaji. Whilst they were verging on fire engine red this shouldn’t detract from their freshness an excellent flavour. Mains were a balti chicken korma for her and a […]

I was kindly invited by the Centre of Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship to an event co sponsored by the Bangladeshi Restaurant Association to look at sustainability issues in a hard pressed section of the private sector. The Centre kindly sent out a questionnaire of mine inviting restaurants who cooked an authentic Balti to complete […]