Further details of a major campaign to promote Birmingham as the UK's food capital have been unveiled.

The £300,000 initiative - as previously reported by The Birmingham Post - is called Birmingham Bites and is spearheaded by Marketing Birmingham. Organisers have revealed the campaign will kick off with a stall at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in November and it will run through the Festive period and throughout 2006.

The campaign will have a similar stall at the Festive BBC Good Food Show in December at Earls Court.

Jewellery Quarter-based S& X Media has been appointed to support the campaign.

Marketing Birmingham says the initiative will be a targeted marketing and PR campaign, promoting Birmingham to reach consumer. trade and lifestyle media.

The campaign targets lifestyle media and aims to boost the city's weekends breaks market.

Neil Rami, Marketing Birmingham chief executive, said: "This is going to be an events-based campaign, driving business into the heart of the city. Every person in Birmingham can benefit and add value - we want to hear about local food knowledge, food and drink events, inspiring chefs, waiters, waitresses and 'local foodie characters' so we can shout about them to the rest of the world."

Andy Munro, adviser to the Asian Balti Restaurant Association, praised the initiative.

He said: "Birmingham Bites is a fabulous opportunity to showcase the exotic variety of spices, flavours, herbs and oils which we use to create Birmingham's famous Balti."

More information at www.birminghambites.com or email your tips on eating out in the city to birminghambites@marketing birmingham.com

* Marketing Birmingham is a public/private partnership supported by the city council and 400 member companies.