When a lunch invitation calls for an hour's train ride to get to your destination, you have to think twice about accepting. But the organisers were insistent. "You can eat the world in Birmingham and that's what we aim to do," they promised. How could I refuse? Besides I've always enjoyed trying new restaurants and this invitation would introduce me to four venues, each of which will be taking part in the BBC Good Food Show this month.

The ease with which a rail journey from Oxford to Birmingham can be taken these days surprised me. What's more, on arriving in Birmingham New Street Station, you find yourself in the very heart of a vibrant cosmopolitan city that's throbbing with life.

The 'dine-around' lunch to which I'd been invited was arranged to provide regional food writers with a taste of Birmingham and a chance to meet the chefs who make it happen.

But first the aperitif at the Bank restaurant, Brindleyplace . . .

Cocktails, it seems, have never been more popular - apparently no meal should start without one, which means skilled cocktail barmen are much in demand in Birmingham. As today's cocktail can cost anything up to £8 or more, it must contain an element of alcoholic magic and look simply stunning to justify this price. Our lunch began with a physallis daquiri, created from crushed physallis, Matusalem Platino white rum, lime juice and sugar syrup, which arrived beautifully garnished with a physallis fruit.

We were also served a Bank blazer which emphasises the showmanship of a cocktail barman. As the name suggests, this cocktail makes much of the flames that dance around the rim of a glass as a mix of gin and pear cognac is swirled into action.

It was Nicolas Windows, manager of le Blanc Brasserie, who greeted us next in this recently refurbished restaurant, which looks distinctly stylish despite being at least twice the size of the company's Walton Street outlet. As news of Raymond Blanc's new BBC2 television series, The Restaurant, had just broken, the staff were in great spirits. This show will feature nine couples whose dream is to run their own restaurant. Raymond will provide personal support and financial backing to the winning couple.

The Birmingham le Blanc Brasserie retains Raymond's support, though he spends little time there, particularly now he is embarking on his TV venture. However, he does appear from time to time to discuss menu changes and recipes and assist with staff training We were presented with the 'dine with wine' menu - a two-course meal and wine for just £10, from which we were able to select a starter. My dish of smoked haddock and saffron risotto, decorated with a soft poached egg, proved a glorious way of beginning my trip into the gastronomic world of Birmingham. As the egg yolk gently oozed its way into the risotto, adding a glorious streak of gold to the plate, I ate confident that this egg was undoubtedly free-range. No battery-produced egg could boast a yolk of such golden intensity.

Our main course was taken at the Thai Edge, Brindleyplace, a smart and very modern establishment decorated with flowers flown in regularly from Thailand. Here we were invited into the kitchen to watch two Thai chefs skillfully transform plates of raw ingredients into an assortment of steaming dishes of fish, chicken and vegetables, which were to be our lunch. The aroma of lemon grass and ginger filled the air as the chefs tossed food from one wok to another - it was rather like watching a well-rehearsed theatrical performance. In fact, their skills were so spectacular that we found ourselves clapping as each new dish emerged.

The pudding course took us just round the corner to Del Villagio, in Broad Street, where two Italian chefs were waiting to demonstrate the fine art of zabaglione making. How I wished they would have divulged the recipe for their home-made ice cream too. The vanilla ice formed the base on which the warm zabaglione was poured prior to serving. It was exquisite. I left with my taste buds still tingling with delight, having enjoyed the creamy vanilla flavours of the chilled ice cream which contrasted superbly with the warm eggy sweetness of the zabaglione flavoured with Sergio Rose.

These chefs and others will celebrate Birmingham's gastronomic scene by taking part in the BBC Good Food Show which runs from Wednesday, November 22, to Sunday, November 26, at the NEC. They will join forces with the cream of the city's restaurateurs on the Birmingham Bites stand (N110 - the BBC Good Food Show's tasting theatre), to share their know-how and tempt visitors with gastronomic treats.

Other chefs taking part will include those from Birmingham's Michelin-starred restaurants Jessica's and Simpsons, who will re-create sample-size signature dishes that feature on their menus. Students from the Birmingham College of Food will also be taking part. Birmingham's newest hotel, the 39- storey Radisson SAS, which boasts a restaurant offering flavours inspired from Sardinia, the Italian mainland, France and the Arabic cuisine will be represented, too.

Emma Ward, the public relations executive helping to organise the Birmingham Bites contribution to the show, explained that they tried this idea out at last year's BBC Good Food Show and it proved so successful they obviously had to turn it into an annual event.

"People are beginning to realise just what a great city Birmingham is. It's certainly the natural host for the BBC Good Food Show," she said, as she pointed out the Symphony Hall, with its impressive auditorium, during our walk back to the railway station.

The train left on time and I was home in an hour, much to the delight of my dog who seemed to sense I'd been on an adventure.

For further information, and to reserve tickets for the show, including a place in the tasting theatre, you can go to: bbcgoodfoodshow.com or call 0870 380 00134.