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