Brum's a taste of heaven; FOOD: City has Top Ten recipe for dining out.

Byline: By Catherine Hendrick CONSUMER EDITOR

BIRMINGHAM'S reputation as a food destination is rising faster than a souffle! It's been named one of the UK's top ten heavenly food hot spots.

The city was ranked alongside London and Edinburgh in a top of the nosh charts compiled by national food magazine Olive.

It asked people across the country to nominate whether the place they lived was foodie heaven or foodie hell.

Among those ranked as the equivalent to dining out in Hades were Swindon and the seaside resort towns of Blackpool and Bournemouth.

Michelin-starred restaurants Simpsons and Jessica's, in Edgbaston, helped earn Birmingham a top ten place in foodie heaven.

City centre restaurants Itihaas, Opus, Bank and the bistro at Hotel du Vin were also highlighted as examples of Birmingham's gourmet expertise by Olive.

Birmingham's traditional city rival, Manchester, failed to make it on to the list.

Luke Tipping, Birmingham-born chef de cuisine at Simpsons restaurant, said: "I'm chuffed to bits to hear this.

"It's good for us as a restaurant and good for Birmingham. It's how things should be, as we're the second city. It's only in the last five years that Birmingham has had anything to shout about in terms of restaurants, but now it's going from strength to strength."

Dave Hodgson, marketing director of Marketing Birmingham, said: "We are delighted that Birmingham's outstanding food and drink offering has been recognised.

"The city's place as one of the top ten food hot spots in the UK is proof that its culinary scene has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years.

"Birmingham boasts award-winning restaurants, fantastic food halls and cookery schools."

Mr Hodgson added: "Its food and drink offering deserves to be celebrated and this will be done by events such as BBC Good Food Summer Festival at the National Exhibition centre this month and Taste of Birmingham in July."

The accolade is the latest in a series for the city's food industry.

Last month a visit to Birmingham's Balti Triangle was listed as one of the top 25 things to do before you die by travel tome Rough Guide.

The Birmingham Mail also revealed that celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, the man behind the Taste of Birmingham Food Festival, has been so impressed by the city that he aims to open a restaurant here.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: PAGE 57

CAPTION(S):

FAN... Aldo Zilli.; CHUFFED TO BITS... Luke Tipping, of Simpsons (top).