I met a couple of friends in the Balti Triangle (one of whom uses to own a proper Baltihouse called Al Frash) and we visited one of the many new eateries to chew the fat.

In fairness, I won’t reveal its name but we ordered a large Mixed Grill Tawa and a ‘Balti’ Chicken. The good news is that the Tawa was a decent affair but that was more than could be said for the ‘Balti’. Lumps of chicken thighs (some a bit gristly) served up in a one dimensional sauce in a shiny karahi bowl with not a trace of caramelisation at the edges.

In authenticity terms this amounts to a treasonable offence but, am I surprised ‘no’ and was I disappointed ‘yes’!

Unfortunately the lonely girl waiting on front of house was young enough to be my granddaughter so I resisted the temptation to reeducate her in a culinary sense.

Not the best advert for the Balti Triangle!

Approaches have now been made to the City Council to agree to authenticate restaurants that serve the authentic Birmingham Balti. 

Although given their financial position. they will be naturally needing more than a few pieces of silver to check out what are probably no more than around twenty restaurants  who serve the pukka version.

Overall funding of around £8O00 is likely to be needed to develop and fully implement the scheme so the next hurdle will be to identify and source some funding likely to be lottery or something similar.