The Birmingham Balti Association’s ambitious bid to achieve the European Union’s coveted TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) status for the City’s (and arguably the Country’s) favourite dish has taken another step forward on its culinary journey. Having been steered through the UK objection period, it is now in the hands of Brussels who have six months to deliberate on the application.

Birmingham Balti Association Chairman, Andy Munro, said,’It’s been a long hard road since we first drafted the application back in 2011 but we are now very optimistic that we will achieve our goal. Once the EU Commission have deliberated, there is a final 3 months objection period for other EU country’s to object if they wish. However, I would like to think that, for example, a country like Greece wouldn’t object … unless, of course, we decided to do a Balti Meat Moussaka!’

The results of the ‘Capital for Curry‘ have been announced with Bradford winning again, Glasgow runners up and Wolverhampton a creditable third. Birmingham, as usual, were nowhere … the difference being that all the others were backed by their local authority, marketing organisations etc. Yet studies show that the estimated economic benefits of winning to a City exceed £1.5m. It’s just a shame that our City Fathers and their relations don’t really value our ‘Curry’ offer as they’re too busy disappearing up their ‘Michelin starred’ culinary backsides!