It is with collective sadness that balti aficionados note the closure of Saleem’s. Known for it’s balti at the hotter end of the spectrum, fiery dips and some mean kebabs, this baltihouse was well loved. Its signature framed picture of their family’s Pakistani wrestling ‘tag team’ will also live long in the memory. With its neighbours, Imran, having a full makeover, it’s likely trade suffered to the extent that it was no longer viable.

Thank you Saleem Waheed for the years of great service you gave to the Balti Triangle and, of course, Birmingham’s famous dish.

The Daily Mail, reporting on the Cheltenham Literature Festival (surprise surprise!), quoted Madhur Jaffray as saying, ‘balti is a craze that will die out as diners move on to more authentic Indian cuisine’ …. she dismissed balti, thought to have been invented in a Birmingham curry house in 1977 as ‘having origins in no place we would want to visit.’ It’s a shame that a culinary icon like Madhur has to stoop to these levels, coincidentally when she’s bringing a new book out. Eitherway she’s got her culinary knickers in a twist on this one for the following reasons…

• Balti is Pakistani Brummie, it’s NOT Indian.
• it is a ‘craze’ that’s lasted nigh on 40 years and the word ‘craze’ aptly describes its popularity which is nothing to be ashamed of.
• authenticity is about the development and/or invention of food not dates… one wonders if all Madhur’s recipes were being prepared and cooked in exactly the same way in India 300 years ago.
• her insult to Birmingham re the origins might have amused Cheltenham’s retired colonels as they enjoyed their ‘authentic’ kedgeree but it was a cheap shot by somebody who should know better.

Regards

Andy