Bradford curry chief hits out (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford curry chief hits out

9:50pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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The owner of a Bradford curry restaurant group has reacted angrily to a bid by Birmingham City Council to ban restaurants outside the West Midlands selling ‘baltis’.

The council claims Birmingham, as the origin of the balti name, has the same right to protect it as people who make champagne and Wensleydale cheese.

If the bid is successful, curry houses outside Birmingham’s ‘Balti Triangle’ would have to take the name ‘balti’ off the menu.

Today, Mohammed Aslam, managing director of Shipley-based Aagrah Restaurants, said: “I am very angry. It is absolutely wrong.

“It is not a dish, it is a style of cooking. How can a style of cooking be protected? They have no right to take one of our popular meals off.

“I believe they (Birmingham City Council) are being misled and are being very naive.

“If it was to go ahead I would never take it off the menu. It would be very serious not just for me but for the seven thousand restaurants in the UK. Ninety per cent of them have baltis on the menu.

“I am sure not only the restaurants in Bradford will campaign, but ones from the rest of the country.”

Adil Kahn, manager of Saffron Desi in Leeds Road, Bradford, said: “It is ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense really. I don’t believe it will ever happen.

“It is a popular thing on the menu and if Birmingham tried to ban it then we would still sell it. I don’t know why Birmingham think its their thing, it is an Indian food.

“Balti has been on the menu for years and I am sure it will stay on.”

Tayub Amjad, director of Zouk Teabar and Grill, also in Leeds Road, said: “It won’t affect us as our restaurant cooks authentic Indian food, we cook karahis.

“Balti originates in Birmingham and if their council wants to waste taxpayers’ money then let them.”

A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “The city is not only the birthplace of the dish, but also home to the UK’s premier community of balti restaurants and businesses – The Balti Triangle.

“The City Council is always seeking new and imaginative ways to promote the city regionally, nationally and internationally, which, if judged to be feasible and to the benefit of local people or businesses, we would not hesitate in pursuing.”

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