Brum's spices a Loyd banker

Oct 17 2007 By Paul Fulford, video by Phil Vinter, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S blossoming restaurant scene still is not getting the recognition it deserves, says television foodie Loyd Grossman.

Though the second city now boasts Michelin-starred Simpson's and the recently opened Purnell's has receive national attention, the writer and broadcaster and writer says that London still hogs too much of the limelight.

Over lunch at Thai Edge, in Brindleyplace, he said that too few national newspaper restaurant critics were willing to venture out of capital to the regions.

But, he insisted, places like Birmingham merited far more attention, especially with its wealth of ethnic restaurants.

"Birmingham has changed substantially over the past ten years," he said.

"That transformation is reflected by the quality and range of restaurants. I want people to know that."

He said Birmingham's range of restaurants from around the world was a great boon.

"Birmingham is a huge mixed salad of different ethnicities. Without wanting to be too serious, it's a strength, because people grow to understand one other by trying each other's food."

Britain's dining boom - with more families now going out to eat more than ever before - was spearheaded by "relaxed" suburban restaurants with tasty, cheap food, he said.

See tomorrow's What's On section for Paul Fulford's latest review of a LOCAL restaurant.