Blog Archives - Page 5 of 6

10 facts about India

9th May 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

India is a huge, enigmatic part of our world, and there are a lot of interesting things to come out of the diverse South Asian country, which is why we’ve put together a list of 10 facts about India that you probably didn’t know.

1.Over 100 million years ago in the age of the dinosaurs, India was an island. It was only until 50 million years or so later that it would collide with Asia and the two continents’ coastal areas formed the Himalayas.

2.India doesn’t have a national language, but it is said that the number of languages spoken in the country is over 1000.

3.India has the world’s largest film industry with over 1000 films produced each year.

4.India has the largest population of cattle in the world, and therefore produces the most milk.

5.Gold is one of India’s biggest obsessions and the country is the largest buyer of gold in the world.

6.India prides itself on having the largest democracy in the world.

7.“Chaturanga” means ‘four members of an army’ and was India’s gift to the world. The game “Chaturanga” is now commonly known as chess.

8.The country is home to the largest number of English speakers in the world.

9.Yoga originated in India 5000 years ago.

10.India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world.

Now you’ve learnt some more about India, why not try some authentic Indian cuisine at our Birmingham restaurant? Book now!

The history of curry & Brum’s love affair

17th April 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Birmingham has become known as the curry capital of the UK with a wide selection of curry houses spread across the city. People from all over the UK come to Birmingham just to sample the authentic Indian cuisine that can be experienced here, but where did this love affair between Brum and curry from?

Balti houses began popping up in the Midlands city in the 1970s, and due to their popularity amongst locals, they’ve been growing ever since. The Balti dish was created by the local Pakistani/Kashmiri community that decided to bring a taste of their home cooking to the streets of Birmingham, by blending various herbs and spices to create the perfect dish that could also be enjoyed by the Western locals. The famous Birmingham Balti Triangle was formed by bringing together the Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley areas of the city to form a triangle of Asian cuisine, and is a well-visited spot for food lovers. However, the heart of the city also features an array of award-winning restaurants that aim to create an extraordinary dining experience.

Birmingham’s curry restaurants are increasingly in demand, as Birmingham’s reputation for being the best of the best when it comes to authentic Indian cuisine continues to grow; it’s impossible not to visit the city without sampling some delicious food.

If you want the full Birmingham curry experience, visit Itihaas restaurant for a completely authentic taste of fine Indian cuisine. Tantalise your taste buds with our lunch menu or go for the full fine-dining experience of an evening meal. You’ll be surrounded by enchanting historical décor with a modern twist, to really set the mood as you dine. Book now for your Itihaas experience!

Indian spices & their many uses

3rd April 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Indian spices aren’t just great for adding flavour to your recipes, many of them also have other medicinal properties. We’ve outlined some of our favourite spices that have multiple uses, so you can start improving your health, and your meals, every day.

Turmeric

Bright and beautiful Turmeric is an antioxidant that has been said to help fight and manage Cancer. It also cleanses the liver, so it’s perfect for when you’re suffering with a hangover and want every ounce of alcohol out your system. It’s also known to be used in the prevention of Alzheimer disease.

Cumin seeds

Cumin is commonly used in Indian cuisine, and it can pretty much be used in any dish! It also boosts the immune system, relieves pain and stomach issues, and is a good iron supplement.

Ginger

Powerful and spicy ginger can boost the immune system, cleansing your body to help relieve colds and joint pains.

Cinnamon

Not only does cinnamon taste great sprinkled over our coffee or desserts, it has also been known to regulate blood sugar, meaning you’ll be full of energy all day.

Cloves

Cloves are used considerably across India, and not just in the food. They are considered to be natural painkillers, so are perfect steamed in boiling water to relieve a sore throat.

Here at Indian restaurant Itihaas, we use an extensive range of authentic Indian spices, which means you’ll not only get a delicious meal, but you’ll leave feeling happier and healthier.

Mother’s Day traditions in India

13th March 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

With Mother’s Day in the UK approaching next month, we’re sharing how the day is celebrated in our native India.

Inheriting the tradition from the US, Mother’s Day in India is celebrated on the 2^nd Sunday of May and is a fairly modern addition to the Indian calendar. As a non-traditional Indian holiday, Mother’s Day is celebrated across the whole of culturally diverse India, unlike other festivals that are only recognised in certain religions. As a foreign festival, it’s remarkable how quickly the day has taken off across India, but then Mothers are respected and loved across the globe, and this special day is a great way of saying thank you.

Mother’s Day in India is celebrated in a variety of ways. Some celebrate in the Westernised way of giving a card and flowers, and in the capital Delhi, Mother’s Day is regarded as a big deal with discounts being offered and special TV segments dedicated to mothers. Schools are also known to put on plays and performances for the mothers of the schoolchildren. Another big Mother’s Day tradition in India is where the children take over the cooking to give the mother a break from the kitchen.

Just like many other countries across the world that celebrate this special day, it’s important to make sure our mothers get the treats they deserve. Mothers are there to guide you through life and tackle any hardships you encounter. They give you eternal love and acceptance, so make sure you say a huge thank you to your mother this Mother’s Day.

Here at multi award-winning Itihaas, we’ve created a bespoke 3 course menu, full of tasty Indian cuisine for the special day, and not only that, but mothers get to eat free! Book now to avoid disappointment.

Click here to view the menu.

Celebrate Holi with a feast of colours

6th March 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Holi has become particularly famous in Western countries the past few years, as more and more people take on the Indian and Nepalese festival of colours/sharing love. As a great signifier that good triumphs over evil, the ancient Hindu religious Holi festival embraces all that is good and fun in the world. The celebration of Holi often involves a giant water fight, where dry powder and coloured water are thrown around in large crowds of people gathering for Holi, who then dance and party the night away.

Here at Itihaas, we’re celebrating Holi through our feast of colours. Stop by and try our Thali lunch selection for the ultimate Indian food selection and embrace colour this March 13th.

Come see Itihaas at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Wedding Fayre!

10th February 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Engaged and planning that dream fairytale Indian wedding? A huge part of the fun in getting married is the planning process, searching for that perfect venue, sampling delectable cuisine and of course, hunting down what you’re wearing on the big day! That’s why you should head on down to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Wedding Fayre this 26th February, so you can see this wonderful venue in all its fairytale glory.

From the intricate detail of its tall glasshouses to the epic surroundings of a tropical paradise, this venue has it all to make your wedding feel truly magical.

We’ll be at the wedding fayre on the 26th, so you can come and speak to us personally about how we can turn your day into an enchanting event that will leave you and your guests forever spellbound. Talk to us about our menu options, and how we can tailor the food to suit you. We can also deliver a wide variety of other services to make your day extra special, these include, but are not limited to:

Wedding Décor
Music & Entertainment – DJs, classical music, bands, live singers
Wedding video filming
Event lighting
Wedding Photographer
Wedding Cakes
Kids Buffet
Chocolate Fountains
Bars & Tailor made drinks packages
Ice sculptures & ice bars
Champagne fountains
Floral arrangements
Top table décor
Chair covers
Fruit displays

We look forward to meeting you on the 26th !

Woo your loved one this Valentine’s Day with our seductive cocktail recipe

1st February 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Valentine’s Day is coming up, so we’ve put together a seductive cocktail recipe video you can use to woo your other half.
Mumbai Sunset is a fruity infusion of raspberry, orange and peach for that real taste of an Eastern Romance this 14th Feb. Each layer tantalises you with a new flavour, while the kick of vodka adds a flirtatious twist, guaranteed to bring a romantic spark to your evening.

You will need:

1 x Whole lemon (freshly squeezed)

25ml Sugar syrup

25ml Raspberry vodka

25ml Peach Schnapps

25ml Raspberry puree

Ice

Cocktail shaker

Orange juice

Fresh fruit to garnish

Instructions:

Squeeze lemon juice into glass
Add sugar syrup, raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, raspberry puree and ice to glass
Put cocktail shaker on top of glass and SHAKE!
Get a fresh glass and fill with more ice, then pour in shaken mixture
Add fresh orange juice
Top off with straw and fresh fruit as garnish

Why not go all out this Valentine’s Day and treat your loved one to our special Valentine’s lunch or dinner? View the menu here.

Birmingham Valentine’s Date Ideas

19th January 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

February 14^th is only a few weeks away, and we’ve got your back when it comes to treating your loved one this Valentine’s Day with our date ideas around the wonderful city of Birmingham.

Stroll along Birmingham’s canals

Take advantage of the many canals we have here in Birmingham and take a nice, quiet stroll and see a different side of Birmingham along the canal route.

Spice up your Valentine’s at Itihaas

Book a table with Itihaas and we’ll serve you up a 3-course Valentine’s lunch or dinner that’ll be enough to make your heart skip a beat. Where better to spend Valentine’s than in the heart of Birmingham at our restaurant?! Stop for a few cocktails after your meal while we set the mood with our captivating vintage décor.

Visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens is a fun day out any time of the year, but it can be an extremely romantic setting for spending the day with your loved one. The beautiful gardens and majestic greenhouses would also make a wonderful spot if you’re planning on making a proposal, or are already engaged and want to spend V Day wedding venue hunting!

Help the homeless

If you want to do something different with your partner this V Day- why not volunteer with Let’s Feed Brum? Come join Itihaas as we serve up food to the homeless every Monday night, or volunteer on Valentine’s Day itself and do something extra special with your loved one. You won’t regret it.

How to create your fairytale Indian wedding

3rd January 2017/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

Everyone deserves a wedding day that is special in every way, which is why we’ve put together some tips to create your very own fairytale Indian wedding, so that your day is everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

Venue

Your venue should reflect the grandeur of a magical castle if you’re going for a fairytale theme, but the most important thing is to remember that your venue is the foundation of your big day. When visiting venues, you need to be able to picture how your special day is going to play out. Wait for the goosebumps, they will come once you’ve found the right place!

For that touch of luxury and elegance for your big day, some of our favourite venues include New Hall Hotel, Chesford Grange Hotel and the magical Botanical Gardens. Another great local option is the Hilton Metropole NEC, where Itihaas can also offer you bespoke rates on your catering!

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Décor

Decorating your venue is the fun bit. This is where you can really bring your dream to life. Bring in bright colours and fairy lights to create a spellbinding ambience that will bring those fairytale elements into reality. Draping tulle fabric through your venue will immediately create an enchanting setting for those important romantic moments. Of course, flowers are essential to a wedding, and no flower is more symbolic of a fairytale romance, than the rose.

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Catering

Searching for the right Indian wedding caterer is one of the most important factors of recreating that elegant fairytale wedding. Food brings people together and making sure you have a wedding caterer who will listen to all your desires and requirements is essential for your wedding celebrations. You need to be able to trust your wedding caterer so that on the day all you have to do is sit back, and tuck in!

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If you want to recreate that fairytale wedding, give Itihaas a call now on 0121 212 3383 and get a special menu created just for you and your special day.

Give the gift of food this Christmas

5th December 2016/0 Comments/in Blog/by Emily Elsworthy

The decorations are up, twinkling lights are illuminating our homes and every day we’re waking up to frosty mornings- it’s no coincidence, Christmas is nearly here!

Most of us will use this time of year as an excuse to get together with friends and family, creating memories and showing them how much they mean to us, and there’s no better setting to spend some quality time with your loved ones this Christmas, than in the enchanting, luxurious comfort of the Itihaas restaurant.

Gather your parents, children and partners, and give the gift of food this Christmas. There’s nothing more comforting than good company and great food, and Itihaas’ Christmas menu is everything you need to make sure this year is extra special.

With mains like Turkey Chettinad and Rum infused Tandoori Lamb Chop, there’s more than enough to make sure you leave feeling full of Christmas cheer.

Spending time with those you love is the greatest gift anyone could have- Let Itihaas be the place you celebrate this year, and we promise to serve you up a Christmas you won’t forget.

To book, call 0121 212 3383 or email: info@itihaas.co.uk