Home The 1% Club Podcasts Editorial News Picture Gallery Two Views Sommelier Chef's Table Front-of-House Features Book Reviews Travel The Guides Michelin Guide Relais & Chateaux National Guides Europe 25 Contact |
Home The 1% Club Podcasts Editorial News Picture Gallery Two Views Sommelier Chef's Table Front-of-House Features Book Reviews Travel The Guides Michelin Guide Relais & Chateaux National Guides Europe 25 Contact |
Bountiful Birmingham by Daniel Darwood (2005)
see also www.beinbirmingham.com
“Balti, Bournville, Bull Ring.” Ask anyone from the Home Counties what they associate with Birmingham and these three
features often come to mind. Not that they are unimportant aspects of the city’s food heritage, but on their own they paint a
limited picture of what the city has to offer.
And yet this stereotypical perception will soon be – if not already - a thing of the past. England’s second city, so often the butt
of southern scorn or patronising condescension, now finds itself at the centre of national media attention for more reasons
than curry, chocolate and covered markets.
As Richard Johnson of The Independent wrote on 15 January 2005, “The city is no longer second class…Birmingham was
always somewhere you drive through; Or – thanks to spaghetti junction – somewhere you drive around.”
Sky TV, for instance, will feature its foodie developments in its new programme Taste later this month. Even Jeremy
Clarkson, whose Sunday Times review of Simpson’s was littered with gratuitously insulting comments on Birmingham
eating out habits, has lamented his comments in a recent interview with Nick Owen on Midlands Today.
Foremost amongst the reasons for this higher profile is the awarding of a Michelin stars to Simpsons and Jessica’s at the
start of 2005. Applauded also by other major food guides and critics from the national broadsheets, these two restaurants
have placed Birmingham firmly on the gastronomic map. Food lovers will travel some distance to eat here.
And yet this is only one element of the new found self confidence. Far from apologising for its supposed inadequacies, the
city is now trumpeting its glories, not all of which are new.
Birmingham Bites, a new food and drink campaign to promote excellence in eating out, local produce and weekend foodie
breaks, was launched in September 2005. It focuses on five elements: World Cuisine, Local Food Producers, Fine Dining,
Cookery courses, and Markets Food Halls and Specialist Delicatessens.
The BBC Good Food Show, to be held at the National Exhibition Centre from 23- to 27 November, will be used to showcase
this campaign. With its established reputation and big celebrity element, the event is likely to attract some 150.000 visitors.
They will be able to pick up tips from local award winning chefs, taste the best of Birmingham’s local produce and win
prizes provided by the city’s leading food outlets. A special feature will be the opportunity of tasting dishes from top
Birmingham restaurants - £5 for two courses.
However, an exciting programme of events has already been underway since last September (2004)
On the World Cuisine front for instance, the city’s status as the Curry Capital of Britain 2005 has been enhanced by the Balti
Breaks scheme. Three options - Vegtarian, Original or Red Chilli/Green Chilli options, have involved shopping expeditions
with, and cookery demonstrations by, the chefs of Imran’s, Royal Naim and Al Faisal’s respectively. Thus the trade secrets
of the Pakistani –Kashmiri community of the Balti triangle have been revealed, giving enthusiasts the ability to create
restaurant style dishes at home.
The contribution of well established producers to the city’s culinary heritage is being recognised by the accolade of “Food
Hero” Consider, for instance, Greg Pearce, Prawn star, a fifth generation proprietor of Pearce’s Shellfish which has been
trading since the 1840s. More recently, Aktar Islam of Lasan Restaurant, has developed a unique fusion menu - involving
much exotic fruit and vegetables - of Indian and European cooking styles. He is enthusiastic about telling how Indian
dishes have been adapted to suit the western tastes. Nor has the Bournville connection been forgotten: George Dadd has
been hailed the “Choc Star”. Now Chief Chocolate Taster at Cadburys, he originally joined the firm 33 years ago as an
analytical chemist. Today, he is measuring and advising on the exact level of ingredients, and conducting laboratory tests to
ascertain the product’s possible shelf life.
High amongst the proliferation of cookery schools and classes is Simpsons. L’Ecole de cuisine, which features one day
courses of up to ten people. The experience comprises a cookery demonstration, gourmet lunch, wine tasting and kitchen
tour. They are run by Top Class Food Hero Charlotte Barr, a brilliant graduate of the city’s prestigious College of Food and
Tourism and once Egon Ronay student chef of the year. Her experience at Rick Stein’s Padstow restaurant, Le Caprice and
the Ivy enhances her impressive CV.
The demand for quality products has seen Farmers’ markets flourishing in the city centre and its suburbs: Of particular note
were the Gourmet food Market at the Bullring, and the National Market fortnight have been held in September and October
Nor have the less fortunate been forgotten in this seeming abundance. Birmingham restaurants have been taking part in
StreetSmart, a national campaign sponsored by Bloomberg to help the homeless. At breakfast party held at Simpson’s to
celebrate its second year in Birmingham, local organiser Roulla Xenides, of S & X Media, thanked local restaurateurs for
helping to raise £8000 in 2004/05 for local homeless charities, and for continuing the campaign.
Driving the move to promote the city, is Marketing Birmingham, a public-private agency engaged by the city council to raise
Birmingham’s profile both nationally and internationally. It also has an office in Piccadilly –“Birmingham West 1” -
Neil Rami, its Chief Executive, is excited about the scene: “Birmingham is a creative and cosmopolitan city with a fantastic
food culture – from its markets which have been established for almost 100 years to a huge range of international, fine
dining restaurants and home grown products.”
Renowned as the leading conference city in the UK, Birmingham has become a leisure destination in its own right, rather
than just a place to pass through or to visit on business. Hotels have noted a 20% rise in occupancy rates at weekends,
reflecting major commercial developments. The city centre has been revitalised –with a £40 million Bullring redevelopment.
including the biggest retail outlet in Europe and also attracts major cultural events, both of which are serviced by an
increasing range of restaurants and bars. A boulevarding city centre, with 6000 residential units available, has attracted the
young professional market; indeed, every apartment in the Bullring development has been sold in advance.
Demand creates its own supply. The 100,000 professionals in the city form a demanding sector feeding off itself. They are
prepared to pay for quality eating, the medium range informal style brasseries such as Le Petit Blanc and Bank benefiting
the most. There has been growth in this area which has settled,
All this impacts on the restaurant scene in a symbiotic way as people seeing this want to be part of the action. Andreas
Antona, chef patron of Simpsons is one such person. Six years ago, Birmingham was not right for his investment; a year
ago it was.
Raymond Blanc is another: “Birmingham has a dynamism that I admire….this is a city going places, and I want to be part of
it.”
And there is an industry to back this growth: the city has the largest food market in Britain, contributing £400M to the local
economy annually, whilst the College of Food trains some of the best talent in the country, attracting an international array of
students.
Moreover, the internet has revolutionised how Birmingham markets itself. It was first city in the UK to have a Destination
Marketing Agency and also a Destination Management System using the internet for hotels and restaurant bookings. Short
breaks have been promoted as part of an optimisation strategy. Food sites like Birmingham Plus will continue to inform
enthusiasts of the best.
And what of the future? Given the energy, dynamism and variety of Birmingham Bites and the underlying strategy of
Marketing Birmingham, the city can only go from strength to strength. Such optimism was reflected in conversations at the
first anniversary party of the Hyatt’s refurbished bar, Pravda. The chocolate fountain, a reminder of one of the past and
current glories of the Birmingham food heritage, was an appropriate buffet centrepiece in what was Chocolate week
January sees the publication of the Michelin Great Britain & Ireland Guide and with the undeniable momentum enjoyed by
the city, surely more accolades will follow.
see also www.beinbirmingham.com
“Balti, Bournville, Bull Ring.” Ask anyone from the Home Counties what they associate with Birmingham and these three
features often come to mind. Not that they are unimportant aspects of the city’s food heritage, but on their own they paint a
limited picture of what the city has to offer.
And yet this stereotypical perception will soon be – if not already - a thing of the past. England’s second city, so often the butt
of southern scorn or patronising condescension, now finds itself at the centre of national media attention for more reasons
than curry, chocolate and covered markets.
As Richard Johnson of The Independent wrote on 15 January 2005, “The city is no longer second class…Birmingham was
always somewhere you drive through; Or – thanks to spaghetti junction – somewhere you drive around.”
Sky TV, for instance, will feature its foodie developments in its new programme Taste later this month. Even Jeremy
Clarkson, whose Sunday Times review of Simpson’s was littered with gratuitously insulting comments on Birmingham
eating out habits, has lamented his comments in a recent interview with Nick Owen on Midlands Today.
Foremost amongst the reasons for this higher profile is the awarding of a Michelin stars to Simpsons and Jessica’s at the
start of 2005. Applauded also by other major food guides and critics from the national broadsheets, these two restaurants
have placed Birmingham firmly on the gastronomic map. Food lovers will travel some distance to eat here.
And yet this is only one element of the new found self confidence. Far from apologising for its supposed inadequacies, the
city is now trumpeting its glories, not all of which are new.
Birmingham Bites, a new food and drink campaign to promote excellence in eating out, local produce and weekend foodie
breaks, was launched in September 2005. It focuses on five elements: World Cuisine, Local Food Producers, Fine Dining,
Cookery courses, and Markets Food Halls and Specialist Delicatessens.
The BBC Good Food Show, to be held at the National Exhibition Centre from 23- to 27 November, will be used to showcase
this campaign. With its established reputation and big celebrity element, the event is likely to attract some 150.000 visitors.
They will be able to pick up tips from local award winning chefs, taste the best of Birmingham’s local produce and win
prizes provided by the city’s leading food outlets. A special feature will be the opportunity of tasting dishes from top
Birmingham restaurants - £5 for two courses.
However, an exciting programme of events has already been underway since last September (2004)
On the World Cuisine front for instance, the city’s status as the Curry Capital of Britain 2005 has been enhanced by the Balti
Breaks scheme. Three options - Vegtarian, Original or Red Chilli/Green Chilli options, have involved shopping expeditions
with, and cookery demonstrations by, the chefs of Imran’s, Royal Naim and Al Faisal’s respectively. Thus the trade secrets
of the Pakistani –Kashmiri community of the Balti triangle have been revealed, giving enthusiasts the ability to create
restaurant style dishes at home.
The contribution of well established producers to the city’s culinary heritage is being recognised by the accolade of “Food
Hero” Consider, for instance, Greg Pearce, Prawn star, a fifth generation proprietor of Pearce’s Shellfish which has been
trading since the 1840s. More recently, Aktar Islam of Lasan Restaurant, has developed a unique fusion menu - involving
much exotic fruit and vegetables - of Indian and European cooking styles. He is enthusiastic about telling how Indian
dishes have been adapted to suit the western tastes. Nor has the Bournville connection been forgotten: George Dadd has
been hailed the “Choc Star”. Now Chief Chocolate Taster at Cadburys, he originally joined the firm 33 years ago as an
analytical chemist. Today, he is measuring and advising on the exact level of ingredients, and conducting laboratory tests to
ascertain the product’s possible shelf life.
High amongst the proliferation of cookery schools and classes is Simpsons. L’Ecole de cuisine, which features one day
courses of up to ten people. The experience comprises a cookery demonstration, gourmet lunch, wine tasting and kitchen
tour. They are run by Top Class Food Hero Charlotte Barr, a brilliant graduate of the city’s prestigious College of Food and
Tourism and once Egon Ronay student chef of the year. Her experience at Rick Stein’s Padstow restaurant, Le Caprice and
the Ivy enhances her impressive CV.
The demand for quality products has seen Farmers’ markets flourishing in the city centre and its suburbs: Of particular note
were the Gourmet food Market at the Bullring, and the National Market fortnight have been held in September and October
Nor have the less fortunate been forgotten in this seeming abundance. Birmingham restaurants have been taking part in
StreetSmart, a national campaign sponsored by Bloomberg to help the homeless. At breakfast party held at Simpson’s to
celebrate its second year in Birmingham, local organiser Roulla Xenides, of S & X Media, thanked local restaurateurs for
helping to raise £8000 in 2004/05 for local homeless charities, and for continuing the campaign.
Driving the move to promote the city, is Marketing Birmingham, a public-private agency engaged by the city council to raise
Birmingham’s profile both nationally and internationally. It also has an office in Piccadilly –“Birmingham West 1” -
Neil Rami, its Chief Executive, is excited about the scene: “Birmingham is a creative and cosmopolitan city with a fantastic
food culture – from its markets which have been established for almost 100 years to a huge range of international, fine
dining restaurants and home grown products.”
Renowned as the leading conference city in the UK, Birmingham has become a leisure destination in its own right, rather
than just a place to pass through or to visit on business. Hotels have noted a 20% rise in occupancy rates at weekends,
reflecting major commercial developments. The city centre has been revitalised –with a £40 million Bullring redevelopment.
including the biggest retail outlet in Europe and also attracts major cultural events, both of which are serviced by an
increasing range of restaurants and bars. A boulevarding city centre, with 6000 residential units available, has attracted the
young professional market; indeed, every apartment in the Bullring development has been sold in advance.
Demand creates its own supply. The 100,000 professionals in the city form a demanding sector feeding off itself. They are
prepared to pay for quality eating, the medium range informal style brasseries such as Le Petit Blanc and Bank benefiting
the most. There has been growth in this area which has settled,
All this impacts on the restaurant scene in a symbiotic way as people seeing this want to be part of the action. Andreas
Antona, chef patron of Simpsons is one such person. Six years ago, Birmingham was not right for his investment; a year
ago it was.
Raymond Blanc is another: “Birmingham has a dynamism that I admire….this is a city going places, and I want to be part of
it.”
And there is an industry to back this growth: the city has the largest food market in Britain, contributing £400M to the local
economy annually, whilst the College of Food trains some of the best talent in the country, attracting an international array of
students.
Moreover, the internet has revolutionised how Birmingham markets itself. It was first city in the UK to have a Destination
Marketing Agency and also a Destination Management System using the internet for hotels and restaurant bookings. Short
breaks have been promoted as part of an optimisation strategy. Food sites like Birmingham Plus will continue to inform
enthusiasts of the best.
And what of the future? Given the energy, dynamism and variety of Birmingham Bites and the underlying strategy of
Marketing Birmingham, the city can only go from strength to strength. Such optimism was reflected in conversations at the
first anniversary party of the Hyatt’s refurbished bar, Pravda. The chocolate fountain, a reminder of one of the past and
current glories of the Birmingham food heritage, was an appropriate buffet centrepiece in what was Chocolate week
January sees the publication of the Michelin Great Britain & Ireland Guide and with the undeniable momentum enjoyed by
the city, surely more accolades will follow.
With thanks to Roulla Xenides,
S&X Media, www.sx-media.com
S&X Media, www.sx-media.com
| Copyright fine-dining-guide.com 2004-2005. All Rights Reserved. |
| See Glynn Purnell Interview See Andreas Antona Interview |