Birmingham’s famous Balti is now the subject of an application for European ‘protected’ food name status with an application lodged for it to be registered as a TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed). In doing so, it is the first ‘ethnic’ food in the UK to be the subject of a proposed TSG and, if successful, it will join the ranks of British stalwarts such as Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, Stilton Cheese and Arbroath Smokies.

As a proud Brummie, I wanted to see the genuine Birmingham Balti protected as this is the City where the phenomenon started. Unfortunately the term ‘Balti’ has almost become a generic term for curry and I want to ensure that the original fast cooked dish is properly protected from being diluted in its use.

It has taken over a year’s hard work to get to formal submission even with great support from Adas UK and Matt O’Callaghan who masterminded the successful application for the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.

Birmingham now has some fabulous restaurants yet it is still the Birmingham Balti that is the initial culinary hook, as a recent article in the New York Times illustrates.

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THE BALTI BITES BACK!

After yet another round of unnecessary balti bashing by the ‘haughty-cuisine’ clique of City Centre ‘Indian’ restaurants,it is worth noting that the prestigious New York Times has just placed Birmingham in its top 20 of ‘must see’ places in the world based on its food offer. Why,  might ask? Well although restaurants like Purnells and Lasan are rightly mentioned in despatches, the main headline reason is its reputation as the home of the Balti. I wonder if there is a curried version of humble pie?!

If there is a large group of you locally and you need transport, why not hire a ‘Balti Bus’. Contact is Sue who runs the legendary ‘Brum Buzz’ and for more details you should visit www.birmingham-tours.co.uk or alternatively visit www.alternativetours.co.uk.

Andy

BALTI TOURS

A recent Balti Tour attracted much favourable comment when a party travelled from Kidderminster to sample the delights of the Balti Triangle.

Organiser Monica Guise described the day as ‘ wonderful ‘ and ‘highly recommended for somebody wanting something different or with an interest in food and cultures’.

The Tour included a short intro to Balti, a cookery demo, a tour around the area (jewellers, sari shop, spice shop, sweet centre and hardware store) before returning for a well earnt meal in top baltihouse Shabab and a chance to win a prize in a Balti Quiz!’

Andy

The Euro may be on the verge of being discredited but Europe may, at least, be about to do its bit for Birmingham’s signature dish. An application is currently in advanced stages of discussion in preparation for submission for ‘TSG’ status.

The Birmingham Food Fest is due to start on 14th October and run until 23rd. Imrans and Shabab are both involved and for more info visit www.birminghamfoodfest.com

The Punjab Paradise has closed its doors, possibly for the last time. Always on the decline from the halycon days of Mohammed Shabaz, it is still a great shame. RIP Ali (one of the best restaurant ‘House’ Managers in the business) and the back of house team who undoubtedly produced the best sizzler this side of Lahore.

The recent unprovoked attack on Balti by Lasan’s head chef, Aktar, gave me an attack of gross indigestion as well as indignation but I’ve now recovered in order to set the record straight.

First of all, Lasan is a great restaurant doing mainly ‘authentic’ South Asian cuisine with an innovative twist … therein lies the key because for ‘innovation’ read ‘invention’, the very thing that Aktar criticises. Yes, Balti is a Brummie invention yet isn’t that the same with all styles of food at some stage? The fact that when I spoke to Aktar a few months ago, he didn’t even know what Balti was, to me, speaks volumes. To remind him, it is a simple but effective style of preparing food and perhaps it could be said to be Brummie equivalent of tasty, inexpensive (compared to Lasan’s platinum prices) street food – the latter concept being one that Lasan have proudly featured at various times.

Now turning to Aktar’s view of the Balti Triangle as being a sort of alcoholic’s paradise … it may have escaped his notice that this mainly Muslim area boasts mostly unlicensed restaurants and whilst usually allowing customers to drink alcohol on their premises, ask their customers to drink sensibly … usually always the case, anyway, given that most customers are families or couples. Probably a somewhat less inebriated profile than one or two of the braying ‘City Gent’ (Daily Mail readers?) types that I’ve seen pass through the portals of Lasan at various times.

Aktar also criticises the ‘same old, same old’ baltihouse décor. Now I don’t know whether he still orders prawn cocktail, chicken in the basket and black forest gateau if he occasionally ‘goes for an English’ but the generic ‘Indian’ flock wallpaper style is definitely a bit 70s and as rare in the Balti triangle as the proverbial rocking horse droppings.

Finally it is an irony that Lasan’s (well deserved) fame for its food was brought to the fore by a Scotsman, Gordon Ramsey, whose favourite ‘Indian’ dish is chicken tikka masala INVENTED in the fair city of Glasgow!

Aktar … keep your head down and cook because that’s what you’re best at and do us all a favour and leave the Brummie Balti alone to be enjoyed unpretentiously and in peace.

ANDY MUNRO

Aktar Islam, who fronts Lasan in the JQ, is under fire for attacking city’s balti dish Birmingham Post article.

Andy says: “There are some very good restaurants in places like the Balti Triangle around Sparkhill. Just because they are cheaper than Lasan doesn’t make the quality any less.

“The balti is a unique style of cooking and not the dish itself, so Mr Islam’s argument is poor. There is a real bit of snobbery involved.

A Guide with a difference has been launched highlighting the tremendous range of independently owned shops and restaurants in Alum Rock, the Balti Triangle, Soho/Lozells and Small Heath/Bordesley Green.

This free Guide highlights the unique ness of these multicultural areas and on the eating front it includes information on Moroccan, Turkish, Lebanese and Iraqi restaurants to name just a few.

The photography is great and the Guide will hopefully encourage visits from people who are not just locals!

Students from University College Birmingham are undertaking research on people’s opinions and awareness of the Balti Triangle. Their findings will be published on this site. Watch this space!

Well done to Al Frash for their participation in Comic Relief and their ‘chilli challenge’ competition.