Balti belt a wonder to behold
May 4 2007 By Neil Connor, Chief Reporter
From the imposing elegance of Ayers Rock to the rainbow cascades of Victoria Falls. And from the sprawling colour of the Great Barrier Reef to the mystical charm of Machu Picchu.
All of these are sights to behold - and images which live with you forever.
However, they aren't automatically places you associate with Birmingham's balti district - despite the fact that the 'after-effects' of a dish, adopted as the city's local delicacy, can also last for some time longer than the original experience.
To celebrate 25 years of the Rough Guide travel guide, the publishers have released a series of books listing the 25 great wonders of the world and the 25 wonders of Britain.
And sitting alongside The Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Egypt, Durham Cathedral and Snowdonia, is Birmingham's very own Balti Triangle.
Of course, citizens of Birmingham are well aware that our own Indian cuisine district is far superior to London's Brick Lane and Manchester's Curry Mile.
But the writers of Rough Guide clearly believe what they describe as "getting lost in the Balti Triangle" is the ultimate dining experience - indeed, it is the only dining experience to be listed in the book.
Muhammed Arif claimed to be the first restaurateur to bring baltis to Britain when he set up his Adil restaurant in 1977.
He says the area has blossomed over the years and his Stoney Lane eatery has customers who come from across the UK, continental Europe and even Australia.
"I came to Birmingham in 1969 and when I came back from a visit to Kashmir in 1977 I knew I wanted to set up a restaurant where I would be the first to sell baltis.
"They are very popular with people because they are made from fresh ingredients and can be made to order. There is lots of character in Birmingham's Balti Triangle. All the restaurants make the area what it is.
"I suppose we are one of the main destinations in Britain because we are the most famous balti area, and we were the first."
The Ladypool Road side of the Balti Triangle was ravaged by a tornado in 2004 and the resulting road blocks affected many of the businesses. However, restaurateurs in the area have now recovered.
"We were not affected by the tornado because we are on Stoney Lane, but I know there were many problems with many restaurants at the time," said Mr Arif.
"I will be extending my restaurant later this year. It is quite busy and we need to cater for 150 covers, rather than the 120 we can currently accommodate."
The Rough Guide book describes the triangle as "one of Birmingham's leading culinary assets". It says there are "over 50 restaurants all competing to serve the best, simplest, nononsense and above all the cheapest food".
It adds: "Balti as we know it was born in Birmingham's large Pakistani and Kashmiri communities in the 1970s and is really a testament to their business acumen rather than any fancy gastronomic impulse.
"At restaurants they saw the merits of a style of eating that linked the British love of curry with some short-cuts in the kitchen."
Mark Ellingham, series editor and Rough Guides' founder, says: "When we think of holidays, a lot of people immediately associate this to going abroad. But, believe it or not, you don't actually need to jump on a plane to have an amazing time."
Indeed, you can jump on the Number 12 at Corporation Street and be at the Balti Triangle in 10 minutes.
