The Dolcera Blog

Authorities in the British city of Birmingham are considering applying for European Union protection of ‘Balti’ dishes — a popular form of curry with obscure origins.
If successful, restaurants outside of Birmingham could be banned from using the name Balti — in the footsteps of the famous Champagne (France), Parma ham (Italy) and Wensleydale cheese (Yorkshire).
In order to succeed, the city council would have to prove that the birthplace of the dish is Birmingham, a city with a large South Asian population and lying some 200 km from London. Balti dishes are thought to have been created in the 1970s by Pakistanis living in the city’s Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath, and Moseley areas, home to some 30 curries known as the Balti Triangle.
The origins of the term remain unclear - some food specialists say it goes back to the Baltistan region of Pakistan. Others say the term, which means a bucket in Hindi and Urdu, was thought up by an enterprising chef as a rival to ‘Karahi’ dishes in the competitive curry market. IANS ry restaurants and Balti is a favourite with Londoner.

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