Cooking Up a StormOn 28th July 2005 at around 3pm the Balti Triangle became morelike the Bermuda Triangle with freak weather conditions leading to aTornado. Whilst it only lasted 4 minutes, a 135 mph wind damagedan estimated 700 buildings and 90 cars beyond repair. It is alsoestimated that over 1000 trees were destroyed in the area and amassive rebuilding operation took place. Little evidence can now beseen of the disaster apart from a plethora of new roofs with someroads and green space lacking trees. Interestingly the last majorurban tornado of any significance was also in the Balti Triangle areain the 1930’s nicknamed Hurricane Bertha!

Past & PresentBuildings of historic interest in the Balti Triangle area includeSparkhill Police Station which has a Police Museum (in Court Road);public house buildings including the Angel (corner of Ladypool Roadand Stratford Road) and The Antelope public house; Moseley RoadSchool of Art (Grade II listed) and Moseley Road Public Library andBaths which is also Grade II listed both on the Moseley Road.Religious places include St Johns Church in Sparkhill (Grade II listed),the Salvation Army Citadel on the Stratford road in Sparkhill, EnglishMartyrs Roman Catholic School and Church (Evelyn Road) andslightly more recently the iconic Central Mosque in Balsall Heath,which was built by public donation at a cost of£35,000! Going further back in time to1876, Birmingham City FC even had aground on the Ladypool Road!

A Different Shopping ExperienceApart from the wide range of food outlets and shops there is a greatdeal more the Triangle has to offer in terms of the shoppingexperience. Hardware and fancy good shops such as Uncle’s onLadypool Road and Gohil’s Emporium on Stratford Road stockeverything from balti bowls and other cooking utensils to Asianartefacts. If you are looking for something to wear, there are anumber of shops which stock traditional eastern clothing rangingfrom saris and shalwar kameez to scarves and kaftans. Shops to tryinclude World of Fashion (Ladypool Road) and don’t be shy if youwant something made because they are used to customers pointingout a dress and wanting it made to a certain style, size andspecification - usually something customised takes 4 to 6 weeks.There are also a number of jewellery shops in the area but theAsian jewellery shopping experience differs from the High Street.Typically, Gold is usually 22 carat and the jewellery is sold by weight.Try Rehman’s on the Ladypool Road for something a bit differentwith that Eastern touch.

Balti BreaksWhether you like curry or culture, a visit to Birmingham’s famousBalti Triangle is not to be missed. Recently listed in the ‘RoughGuide’s 25 Things to do in Britain before you die!’With the services of professional guides you can find out themysteries behind balti, including a cookery demo and snacks andthen enjoy a shopping experience with a difference rounded off by atraditional balti with a fun quiz and prizes.The packages range from the fully-fledged Balti Break to just a visitto a restaurant for an entertaining talk, demo, meal and quiz. Thelatter is ideal for office or social gatherings but the format can betailored to suit your requirements.For more information on the Balti breaks contact MarketingBirmingham or on balti generally contactAndy Munro on 07985 169462 ormunroandy@hotmail.com.

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Produced by the Survey and Mapping Team, Economic Development, Alpha Tower, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham, B1 1TR. Tel 0121 303 3867Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Birmingham City Council. Licence No.100021326, 2004.

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Finding Your WayBy Bus

Just a 20 minute bus ride from the City Centre (Corporation Street)

Buses - No.s 4, 6, 31 & 37

By Taxi

Just 10 minutes away from the City Centre use local firm -

Ambassador Cars (Tel: 0121 444 1111)Your passport to travel to and fromBirmingham’s famous Balti Triangle

For more tourism information about Birmingham, visitwww.visitbirmingham.com

This publication was believed to be accurate at the time of printand neither the editor or publisher can accept responsibility for any inaccuracies.

© Copyright Andy MunroPhotography by Anna Gibson (Photography). Contact 07966 981695.

Design & Print in Partnership with Andy Perks, Prontaprint Edgbaston. Tel: 0121 454 9898

the Essential Guide

The BaltiTriangle

About BaltiThe Balti became famous when it first appeared inrestaurants in the 'Balti' Triangle area of South EastBirmingham around 1975. It was invented by the localPakistani/Kashmiri community who developed the dishloosely based on home-style cooking serving the meal inthe bowl in which it is cooked so as to retain all itsflavours. Naan, rather, than rice accompanies the meal andis used to scoop up the food and to wipe clean the bowl atthe end. The dish was adapted to Western tastes andneeds for example using meat off the bone and fastcooking which meant less waiting time for hungrycustomers. Vegetable oil and original spices and herbs areused in its preparation unlike the ghee and curry pastesand powders used in Indian restaurant food elsewhere.

The term 'Balti' is a bit of a mystery as there is not only a place called'Baltistan' but it also means in Hindi/Punjabi a bucket orcooking utensil. The freshness and informality ofthe food soon caught on plus there was theadded bonus that Balti restaurants wereunlicensed allowing people to bringtheir own drinks. Even the cookingreceptacle 'the balti bowl' was firstdeveloped and manufactured inBirmingham using thin pressedsteel rather than cast iron.

The Birmingham Balti is a style ofcooking where every chef uses adifferent combination of spices butcooks in a thin pressed steel ‘wok’which heats up quickly and to whichis added a small amount of vegetableoil. Either onions or tomatoes are usedas a base with freshly cooked chickenbreast (or part cooked lamb) being used inmost meat baltis. During the fastcooking process over a high flame,ginger and garlic puree areadded with a selection ofspices including fenugreek,turmeric, cumin and a garammasala mix. On the point ofserving, fresh coriander isusually sprinkled on top–fresh and healthy cooking atits best!

A Spicy ExperienceAs you would expect in an area like the Balti Triangle inaddition to the restaurants, there is a great food offeringranging from sweet centres to greengrocers and spiceshops.

Try Raja Brothers, the oldest business on the LadypoolRoad, spanning four generations and stocking anamazing 15,000 lines of exotic foodstuffs. A visit is avirtual culinary trip around the world and spices can bebought at less than half the price of High StreetSupermarkets.

Listed below are some exotic fruit and veg which youcan take home to cook, taste and enjoy.

Arabi – Use like a potato peel and boil

Chikoo – Looks like a cross between an old potato and a kiwi fruitbut don’t be fooled because this brown fruit is beautifully sweet

when peeled!

Dates – Whilst they need no introduction there is a vastvariety of dates from fresh to dried; for a change try

boxed Iranian dates when available for real sweetness

Duddi – Top and tail, peel, slice and fry. It has asweetish taste and is good for making gravy.Rumoured to be excellent for circulatory problems

Karela – Looks a bit like a ‘dodgy’ courgette butdeseed, top and tail and boil. Whilst it is slightlybitter it is excellent stuffed with onions, peppers and

potatoes or chicken mince similar to an Englishstuffed marrow

Mooli – Turnip like with a peppery taste - peel and boilwhen using as a vegetable or peel and use raw sliced in

salads

Okra – Also known as Bindi, steam and cook with potatoes, lightlyseasoned with chilli, garlic and ginger

Pakistani Carrots – When in season, these carrots are red ratherthan orange and are very sweet and tasty when cooked

Rivye – These are small aubergines which can be top and tailed,sliced and fried or boiled. They can also be stuffed with mincemeat,potato and onion

The area also has a number of Sweet Centres who make somewonderful sweets on the premises - try the Royal Sweet CentreLadypool Road which both offer a vast range.

Eating Out in the Balti TriangleThere are around 50 restaurants and takeaways in the BaltiTriangle area with well over half of those sit-downrestaurants. Of these, there are probably a dozen restaurantswhich still cook in true balti style although there are also anumber of other restaurants which are well worth a visit.

For an authentic Birmingham balti try:

Adil148 Stoney Lane, Sparkbrook B12 8AJ(Temporarily at 353 Ladypool Road)Telephone 0121 449 0335; Open Noon to MidnightReputed to be one of the balti pioneers, this long established baltirestaurant provides its customers with the authentic experience. Aprevious winner of the prestigious “Best Balti in the UK” Award.

Al Frash186 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, B12 8JFTelephone 0121 753 3120; Open 5pm to LateSmart minimalist décor with an excellent array of dishes cooked baltistyle with a rich spicy sauce served up in the traditional sizzlingmanner this restaurant has a deservedly high reputation. The BaltiAphrodisiac is well worth a try, if you dare!

Punjab Paradise377 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, B12 8LATelephone 0121 449 4110; Open Sunday to Thursday5pm-1am, Friday & Saturday 5pm-2amBuzzy atmosphere, this restaurant has been graced by manypersonalities and has a longstanding reputation for excellent food.Their Balti Chicken Desi is a signature dish whilst their Sizzler Mix isa starter par excellence.

The Popular139 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, B12 8LHTelephone 0121 440 0014, Open 5pm - Late 7 days a weekPopular with locals, this small but friendly restaurant has someexcellent dishes which have a slightly drier presentation. Some greatfood and ask for the Karela and Chicken Mince as a side dish if youwant something a bit different.

Shabab163-165 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, B12 8LQTelephone 0121 440 2893Open 6pm - Late Wednesday to Sunday.Opening hours can be a little irregular but it is definitely worth a visit.A really distinctive rich balti. Try a sizzling Balti Chicken Jalfrezi andenjoy it with a Cheese and Tomato Naan. Diners sometimes bring ina pint from the George pub across the road!

Other restaurants to try include:

Alfaisal, Stoney LaneUpmarket décor with a wide range of wellprepared food but still at competitive prices.

Imran, Ladypool RoadA long established restaurant with adeservedly high reputation and a wideranging menu.

Jyoti, Stratford RoadSouth Indian vegetarian restaurant which has receivedrave reviews from Jamie Oliver

Kababish, Woodbridge RoadRecently refurbished restaurant at the tip of the Trianglewhich enjoys a longstanding reputation for quality food

Lahore Karahi, Ladypool RoadLong established buffet restaurant withcompetitively priced Asian Cuisine

Cook your own BaltiThis recipe is for a slightly hotter and drierbalti. Cook desi (home) style as follows: -

Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil and add twochopped tomatoes, a sprinkling of fresh coriander

and a tablespoon of water. When tomatoes aretranslucent add diced fresh chicken breast, two

small green chillies, a teaspoon of garam masalaand a dessert spoon of ginger and garlic puree.

Add a pinch of fenugreek and paprika and furtherwater as required until chicken is cooked.