Dear Editor, I read with some annoyance but, to be frank, more amusement the ‘City Fathers’ rather limp and ill informed attempt to organise a best balti competition.

Unfortunately I don’t think that they would recognise one if they fell into one by mistake!

In fairness, some of the restaurants named cook a very decent curry but I have visited all of those to which the article refers and only one of them offers anything resembling the real Birmingham balti.

I subsequently checked with the few half a dozen or so that still serve the real thing and none of them had been approached. This is either arrogance or ignorance by the City Council individuals involved (or their highly paid marketing consultants) and I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and call it the latter.

My annoyance is because there is no point in publicising a ‘pseudo’ balti which you can get in Manchester on the Wilmslow Road or in London in Brick Lane.

When people come to Birmingham they want the real thing at the restaurant that they’re visiting otherwise where is Birmingham’s USP. If Ed Chadwick wants the real thing I’ll gladly show him the difference!

Andy Munro

(Author of the Original Essential Street Balti Guide and Advisor to the Asian Balti Restaurant Association)