The Timaru Curry Club is marking its anniversary, and organisers are searching for past members to invite.
Reunion co-organiser Margaret Workman said the club was the brainchild of Dick Van Hilton, a chef who owned Passions Restaurant and Bar.
Mrs Workman said the idea of a club had arisen when Mr Van Hilton and his friends had been lamenting the fact they had not been able to find a decent curry in Timaru.
She said members were sought by word of mouth, until they had gathered sufficient numbers.
The club gathered at Mr Van Hilton’s restaurant monthly where one group selected a menu, for which Mr Van Hilton sourced the ingredients and produced a meal for all of the members.
A cookbook produced by the club, of recipes for the meals for the first three years, had the first meal served in May 1999 as a Sri Lankan meal of lamb curry (elu mas), with shredded cabbage (gova mullung), lentil curry (parippu), and yellow rice (kaha bath), with a side dish of Sri Lankan cucumber (raita).
When Mr Van Hilton sold Passions in 2002, he took up the role of manager at the South Canterbury Club on the Terrace, and the curry club moved with him.
Mr Van Hilton moved to Christchurch in 2006, and the club transferred to Le Monde, a restaurant on the Bay Hill, part-owned by club member Jeff Morrison.
The club stayed at this venue when it was sold to the chef Lindsay Bennett, who changed the name to Fusion.
She said under Mr Bennett’s guidance the club flourished until February 2020.
"After our first meal for the year, Lindsay advised the club that Fusion had been sold and we would need to find another venue.
"A group of members were tasked with finding another venue, and we were fortunate to be welcomed by Jane Bowen at Street Food Kitchen."
While they had been able to meet there, the Covid-19 pandemic arrived and they were unable to meet for three months.
"However, we were able to enjoy a takeaway meal from Street Food Kitchen for these months instead."
"Further lockdowns in 2021 and again in 2022 were dealt with by having takeaways again."
"Eventually things got back to a new normal, but difficulties in obtaining staff after the pandemic meant that we no longer had the support of a chef, and groups were on their own in the kitchen.
"This has not stopped the club enjoying many amazing curries cooked by our members."
She said when Mr Van Hilton was contacted recently about the upcoming reunion he was "astounded" the club was still going.
The club’s reunion would be held on November 4 at Street Food Kitchen.
For more information contact Mrs Workman on 021 029 91942, or email pworkman@xtra.co.nz
