PLANT-BASED IN BIRMINGHAM

ENGLAND'S SECOND CITY HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH VEGGIE AND VEGAN FOOD, AND EVEN MORE PLACES ARE CHAMPIONING PLANT-BASED CUISINE.

- BEN LERWILL

I hear the balti before I see it. It leaves the kitchen sizzling in a blackened metal bowl. It's a curry to behold - a thick, fiery swamp of spices. A charred, pillowy naan is placed next to it as cutlery. I inhale, set aside any sense of decorum and start tearing and scooping almost before the server turns their back.

Birmingham has a food scene that does this sort of thing to a person. Home to a pan-global abundance of seriously good restaurants, not to mention more Michelin stars than any UK city outside London, it was described by last year's Good Food Guide as 'Britain's most exciting foodie destination'.

I'm in town on a mission. A meat-free one. As a vegetarian of just a few years' standing, and still trying to discern my courgette koftas from my jackfruit tacos, I'm here to sample some of the city's countless veggie and vegan options. Shababs proves a good place to start. Its emphasis is on authentic, well-priced baltis with over 30 vegetarian options on the menu.