Sampling the Delights of Birmingham's Balti Triangle By Nikki Spencer
The word Balti literally means “bucket” and the hot spicy dish is thought to have been named after the flat bottom wok it is cooked and served in. Traditionally, Baltis are served with a huge communal naan bread (so large, in fact, that they can take up most of the table!) which is torn off and used to scoop up the rich sauce. Balti first arrived in Birmingham about 25 years ago. There is much debate over who invented the dish, with various restaurants claiming it as their own, but the one thing you can be sure of is that it remains as popular as ever.  © Marketing Birmingham LimitedNow, visitors to Birmingham have the chance to sign up for a behind- the-scenes tour of the area that first made the Balti dish famous. It’s fair to say that Sparkbrook, with street upon street of small red brick terraced houses, is not your usual British tourist location. There are no black and white timber-framed buildings or quaint tearooms to be found here but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of people from all over the UK, and even Australia, joining the Birmingham Tourist Authority’s organised “Balti Breaks”. The area, dubbed by many as the “Balti Triangle”, now has over 50 restaurants ranging from very basic cafes with plastic table cloths to slightly smarter establishments (though don’t come expecting anything too plush). Balti Breaks are the idea of the Asian Balti Restaurant Association. “We started them a few years ago and we have had visitors from as far afield as Edinburgh, Devon and even one couple from Australia. They were in Birmingham to visit friends, read about the tours on the council website and came along and had a great time,” explains Tabriz Hussain, who adds that tour places have also been booked as birthday and anniversary presents.  © Marketing Birmingham LimitedEveryone meets at a restaurant where they get to sample pakoras and samosas (spicy vegetable fritters and pastry parcels) before a cookery demonstration from one of the area’s leading Balti chefs. The group is then taken on a guided tour of the local streets which are not only lined with restaurants but also a colourful array of shops selling everything from spices and traditional shoes, fabrics and saris to Indian sweets. As Emma Ward from Marketing Birmingham explains, “It’s not just about cooking, it’s also about the culture of the area. People come here from all over to buy beautiful wedding saris and the sweets offered by the Asian sweet shops are mouth-watering.” Of course no Balti Break would be complete without a chance to sample the dish itself so the tour is rounded off with an authentic three-course Balti meal followed by a Balti-themed quiz to test who has been paying attention! Each guest also goes home with a souvenir mini Balti dish filled with spices. “Coming on one of our Balti Breaks certainly makes for a different experience,” says Emma “Birmingham has great shops and museums and galleries but this gives visitors another view of the city.” Marketing Birmingham (0870 225 0127 / www.visitbirmingham.com) run four Balti Breaks a year. The next event, which includes a meal at the Royal Naim restaurant, will take place on Saturday May 24th. There are also breaks on Sat 20th Sept and November 29th. The day tour costs £60 including dinner or you can book a package to include accommodation (accommodation costs begin at £23.50 per person). | 
