RECOGNISING THE BIRMINGHAM BALTI
APAB have submitted a bid to the UK Government through DCMS who have been charged with the responsibility of delivering a UK version of the UNESCO approved Trail of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This includes a Food Category and the bid seeks to both recognise and safeguard the world famous Birmingham Balti.
..Meet the Balti Ambassadors Backing the Bid!
Lyle Bignon
Birmingham Night Life Ambassador
“As with heavy metal, Bhangra, industry, canals, and Peaky Blinders, the Balti is now firmly woven into the fabric of Birmingham’s shared cultural history.”
Kirsty Bosley
Birmingham Live , Chief Reporter Food and Drink
“Poor attempts have been made to try and capitalise on the ‘balti’ name, with mock morsels and sham sauces trying to cash in on our city’s culinary heritage. Balti is more than a dish, it’s an experience, and one that helps to tell the story of our great, industrious, hospitable and diverse city. It deserves respect and reverence, as do those who work to keep this very specific tradition alive under ever more challenging trading circumstances.”
Al Carns DSO, OBE, MC
Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Selly Oak
Brad Carter
Michelin starred chef
‘This is a fantastic moment for an iconic dish – the reason I hope that our beloved Balti becomes UNESCO approved as it confirms its position & it’s purpose to our location, culture & heritage – cementing itself in the ‘dish elite’ for our community & tourists alike’
Professor Carl Chinn MBE, Ph.D
Brummie author, historian and raconteur
“The Birmingham Balti melds the peoples and history of the city: a dish with a Pakistani name, devised by Brummies of Kashmiri descent, it’s served in a locally made balti bowl encapsulating generations of metalworking skills and it’s enjoyed by Brummies of all backgrounds. The Birmingham Balti is more than a dish, it is a unifying symbol of many peoples in one Birmingham.”
Tom Cullen
From influential online newspaper ‘ I Choose’
“The Birmingham Balti isn’t just a dish — it’s one of the city’s great cultural inventions. Born here, shaped here, and still fiercely tied to the communities and curry houses that gave Birmingham its flavour. UNESCO status would recognise the Balti for what it truly is: not just dinner, but living heritage served in a sizzling steel bowl.”
Cllr Phil Davies MBE
BCC Cabinet Member for Heritage
“Having represented a diverse area of the City for 14 years I know that Balti is Brummie through and through. It also tastes great!”
Becky Frall
Visit Birmingham Tourism Lead
Steve Heaps
Influential curry blogger
“The Birmingham Balti is one of the few dishes that tells the story of a city through craftsmanship, migration and shared community at the table. What disappears with the authentic Balti is not merely a dish, but a vital part of Birmingham’s cultural identity.”
Zafar Hussain.
Chef & Owner of ‘Shababs’
“Curry came over from India & Pakistan, the balti was born in Birmingham”
Ed James
Presenter BBC Radio West Midlands
Simon Majumdar
Food Writer
“When I was living Birmingham some thirty five years ago Balti, created by the Pakistani immigrants to Sparkhill, was something I craved. Now I am in Los Angeles it is something I long for even more. I saw the craft and care that that went into making this incredible meal when I came back to do a video of it for The Guardian. I also saw its impact on the terrific people of Birmingham who like me saw this Balti as a “Brummie” specialty. Now, more than ever that must be protected”
“ The Balti is a Birmingham invention and many people outside the region became aware of it. Over the years a massive number of diners have visited and tasted this extra special food in the famous Balti Triangle. Shababs are keeping the tradition very much alive and their packed dining room is a sharp contrast to several struggling hospitality outlets elsewhere in the city.
As a long time supporter of the Birmingham Balti I back Andy Munro’s commendable lead for UNESCO approved special status.”
Richard Parker
West Midlands Mayor
“The balti is a Birmingham story. It was created here, shaped by the communities who made this city their home, and has fed generations of Brummies.
“It is a signature dish of a city that is at its best when bringing people together – and nothing does that quite like food. The balti represents so much that is special about Birmingham: its people, its culture, and all that we’ve built here together.”
“During my site visits in Birmingham, it was clear that the authentic Balti has deep cultural meaning, a strong local identity, and a story that deserves wider recognition and protection. The Association for the Protection of the Authentic Balti is playing an important role in safeguarding this heritage for future generations and in supporting the case for its recognition as intangible cultural heritage”.
“The balti is an enduring symbol of both Birmingham’s industrial heritage and cultural diversity, it’s legacy and story should be protected and promoted for future generations of Brummies”