Castle Bromwich is not exactly the Balti Triangle but like a lot of the City’s suburbs boasts some great (and usually unsung) suburban curry houses. Step forward, the Lime Pickle apparently voted the best take away in the UK. Not sure about their rules on home delivery though!
Incidentally, mine’s a Tetul Mix starter followed by Korai Maharajah with a Garlic and Cheese Naan … and don’t forget the poppadoms and dips.
According to the news today (via the Independent), a landlord, based in Kent, has been taken to court for trying to ban tenants from Pakistan and similar regions because of the ‘curry smell’. He claims that the local community all agree with him but let’s hope that’s not a reflection on Kent.
Either way, it’s over the top to say the least. My aunt’s house usually smells of boiled cabbage (which makes the hottest curry smell like Chanel No. 5) so maybe she should be made homeless as well.
Fergus Wilson
Incidentally, a picture of the landlord bears a startling resemblance to Victor Meldew…say no more!
When visitors head for a shopping spree in Birmingham usually, the Bull Ring is firmly in their sights. Perhaps they don’t realise that just a couple of miles down the road is the UK’s most independent shopping centre where over 95% of the shops are independent. This is according to data just released by the Local Data Company and British Independent Retailers.
So , apart from the attractions of a sizzling Balti, a unique shopping experience awaits the intrepid shopper.
Andy Street
With the Bangladesh Caterers Association UK claiming that every week, a couple of Curry Restaurants are closing down, the debate on addressing the shortage of curry chefs boiled up again (See Birmingham Mail 30 Oct 2017). The new West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, has called for more home grown youngsters to be trained to join the trade and for the wage threshold to be lowered allowing chefs in from overseas .
On the latter, he was spot on as the likelihood of a chef being paid £30k per annum in a typical suburban curry house is unrealistic … unless customers are willing to pay Michelin Star prices for their weekly curry fix. On the former, he’s probably being wildly optimistic because unless the restaurant is prestigious or high profile, the chances of a youngster wanting to work in a cramped hot kitchen are, one would think, very slim.
According to a survey by OnePoll.com it now seems that curry is back at the top of the most popular takeaway choice and within that category the ubiquitous Chicken Tikka Masala.
Apparently the fearless Glaswegians like it the hottest (no surprise there!) but the Brummies order the most. Let’s hope that it’s not a case of ‘who ate all the poppadoms….’.
Situated on the edge of the Balti Triangle this lively pub does a roaring trade. Whilst ‘balti’ is on the menu, it’s best known for it’s gargantuan mixed grills. So, whilst I love my authentic balti, occasionally I have a longing for a sizzling mixed grill.
Service was friendly if a little slow but when food is freshly cooked, it’s worth waiting for. We ordered poppadoms (dipping sauces are in no nonsense plastic containers) which were quite simple the best we’ve ever had, crispy and fresh but not greasy. My wife and I then ordered a small mixed grill each with a portion of chips … on reflection a large grill between us would have easily sufficed as, at the end of the meal, it was ‘doggie bag’ time.
The mixed grill was chicken tikka, tandoori, chicken, sheekh kebabs, and lamb chops served up sizzling on a bed of the ubiquitous fried onions.
The tikka wasn’t breast but was still very tasty, the sheekh kebabs were excellently spiced(punchy without being searingly hot) and the lamb chops were superb … my only complaint on the latter was that whilst my two were man size, one of my wife’s was more like a lamb chip.
Overall an excellent meal and for anybody hankering after a mixed grill in a buzzy friendly atmosphere then it’s definitely worth a visit.
263, MOSELEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM B12 0EA
TEL: 0121-440-3043
LICENSED
OPEN 11AM TO 11PM
Knights of the Raj exhibition
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is hosting a free exhibition which tells the story of the Bangladeshi community’s major contribution to the much loved British Curry.
It has some realistic ‘mocked up’ kitchens and dining areas although a trifle disappointingly the wallpaper isn’t of the flock variety.
Some fascinating facts includes the statistic that Birmingham has the biggest Bangladeshi population outside London and that Brum’s first ‘curry house’ was the Darjeeling in 1954 although a ‘John’s Restaurant’ was apparently serving up curries in the forties.
Overall, it’s an exhibition well worth a visit by curry lovers although it’s just a shame that Birmingham’s iconic Balti doesn’t get a mention. The upside on that, of course, is that it’s not the case of the Bangladeshi community trying to lay claim to a dish invented by a Brummie Pakistani!
Knights of the Raj exhibition poster
Knights of the Raj exhibition poster download
I’m often asked about my favourite places to go for a Balti in the Balti Triangle so here’s my current favourites and my reasons. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order so as not to upset any sensibilities!
Al Frash has won a number of awards and favourite customers included the late Sir Terry Wogan. They do one of the best and freshest veg pakoras around and their baltis cooked in organic coconut oil are a real winner.
Another restaurant that has won a plethora of awards and can count the Hairy Bikers amongst their fans. Their piping hot baltis are served up sizzling in jet black bowls, caramelised to a marvellous richness and perfection.
On the hotter side, their baltis are superbly flavoursome whilst packing a decent punch – the chef used to be in the Pakistani Navy so he knows how to cook up a storm.
Recently refurbished, as its name suggests, this cosy restaurant is a popular local eaterie for those in the know. Tasty baltis with only fresh ingredients used whether meat or veg. However, a highlight are their sheekh kebabs which are of a size and potency which would make even Kim Jong envious!
This week, Radio 5 (the Thinking Man’s Talk Radio?) featured a Bolton curry house who were marketing the ‘Bolti’ … supposedly their take on the Best Balti ever. In the interests of the BBC’s worldwide reputation on fairness, they invited a Balti Triangle restaurant to provide the Brummie perspective.
SAUCE: From left, Chef Anwar Hossein and manager Keith Meah, adding the special ingredient to their Bolti dish
Fair play to the Bolton restaurant (the Royal Balti House) for their creativity in the name and using a ‘secret’ ingredient ‘achari’ (pickling spices) to give it a distinctive taste.
Unfortunately, it transpired that the ‘Bolti’ was cooked up in a frying pan and transferred to a silver bowl for serving. This balti blasphemy was teased out by Zaf from Shabab who did our city’s favourite dish proud. In footballing parlance, definitely a case of Bolton 0 v 1 Birmingham!
Punjabi Dahaba Grill
A new restaurant has opened in Kings Heath called the ‘Punjabi Dahaba Grill’ and as I quite like Kings Heath and of course with my personal penchant for ‘Indian’ food, I decided to take away one of their menu leaflets for future reference. There’s vegan soya alternatives … quite apt given the building used to house the Manic Organic Café and some excellent chef’s recommendations such as Halam (lamb cooked with mixed lentils and green chillies) and ‘Hariyali Masala Salmon’ (fillets of salmon flash fried in a green masala sauce, made with fresh coconut, coriander, garlic, mint and chopped tomatoes).
However, undoubtedly their major revelation is their description of Birmingham’s favourite dish ….
‘Classic Original Balti … Unchanged for hundreds of years. Tender chicken, lamb or prawn cooked with ginger, onions, tomatoes and capsicum. A spicy dish served in a balti dish.’
I think I’ll stick with the theory that it’s a Brummie dish invented in our fair city about 40 years ago!