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 in a rich sauce. This included some fresh ginger which definitely gave it a real zing. Overall a very enjoyable meal and incidentally the poppadoms were crispy and the naan bread was fresh and doughy … two things that often let a typical Balti House down.

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 but we’re too overworked to register with UNESCO but hoped to do so sometime. in the future.

It’s a hard life for civil servants working from home over tea and biscuits!