In the 1990s, Birmingham boasted hundreds of authentic balti restaurants. Today, only about 20 remain. A campaign is under way to secure official 'living heritage' status for the dish, which was born in the city in the 1970s.
Zaf Hussain, whose family runs Shababs on Ladypool Road, says many diners no longer know what a genuine balti is. True balti is cooked and served in a steel bowl over high heat, arriving sizzling at the table. 'Lots of people say they do balti, but they actually cook it in a frying pan before dumping it into a bowl,' Hussain explains. The dish has become a catch-all term for any curry-flavoured product.
Andy Munro, a 75-year-old balti enthusiast, has eaten at least one balti a week since 1985. He founded the Association for the Protection of the Authentic Balti and is leading the bid for living heritage status, backed by the West Midlands mayor and a Michelin-starred chef. 'We don't have the romance of Liverpool or the football teams of Manchester, but we have the balti,' Munro says. 'It was born here and it needs to be attributed to the city.'
The campaign aims to encourage a new generation to appreciate the dish, which Munro describes as a cultural bridge. 'It was one of the first dishes the white community here really appreciated,' he notes. 'It's just a shame that so many of the old balti places have closed down now and been replaced by burger or dessert shops.'
