After a five and a half year absence a thirsty RCCC contingent mobbed up and took up their stations in the salubrious surrounds of Fendalton. First to Misceos for some sideways stares and drooling…over the generously sized and good selection of beers. There were the usual 7pm grumbles but at the appointed hour it was time to head over to Indian Fendalton.

TK bought some wearables from his magic box of dress-up and the Festive Seven got into the Currymas spirit. The Maharajah had thrown on his finest white shirt for the occasion, which is pretty brave when imbibing the hot stuff. The finery was however wasted on the Fendalton cougars who were nowhere to be seen on the balmy Thursday evening. The curry scored a solid 4.3 on the curry-o-meter for a pretty good feed and the service was a pleasing 4.3 too.

The Maharajah was obviously feeling aggrieved at the lack of cougars and choose to take his wrath out on the hapless RT who had suggested the visitation and then went MIA on the appointed Thursday. For his crimes against Currydom he was duly awarded the recently resurfaced CoTM trophy and the FOMO trophy for good measure – just deserts indeed!

Service: 4.3/5

Curry: 4.3/5

Total: 8.6/10

Indian Fendalton, 250 Clyde Rd

The Big Day finally arrived, and the weather was perfect for cricket, curry, drinking and talking bollocks all day long. The finely turned out RCCC wolf pack had the fillies of all ages swooning as they as they assembled outside of the Hagley Oval Beer Festival aka the 2nd NZ vs England 5 day test. While the rest of the punters dressed up in silly costumes like peasants on a day off, the RCCC gentlemen looked the business – who can resist a man in a blazer.

The Maharajah had organised lunchtime curry from our most recent Golden Poppadom winner – Saket Prebbleton and the lads were soon knuckle deep in the fragrant creamy goodness. Made even better by the fact that Suraj from Saket had dropped off the curry on his way to play cricket for his local team – absolute curryfection! Our choice of lunch attracted many envious stares and given the volume of food we probably could have fed a couple of them. But we wisely chose to hoard it for a second lunch around 4pm when the beer munchies set in. Despite the eye watering beer prices, the amber ales were going down like homesick moles and when the sun finally bested the clouds the supping pace really picked up.

With the cricket ending on an unsatisfying whimper for home supporters and the braying cries of the Barmy Army still ringing in our ears, we set off for Punky Brewster instead of the planned Afghan Restaurant. After managing to lose one member along the way, the now tipsy throng perused the quite fantastic beer menu and tried to make a decision on dinner while marvelling at the spectre of about 200 randoms doing the cycling equivalent of a flash mob. No sure about the black dildos but anything goes after a skinful in the sun. The food was bloody brilliant at the pub and warrants a revisit at some stage.

The elusive CoTM had made a triumphant return via its sheepish owner SC earlier in the day amid much grovelling. There were many award worthy actions during the day but by the end it was awarded to KS to go with his FOMO trophy from the November visitation. As the sun set, last beers were had and cabs were called, one of the lads summed up the day best – A day I didn’t want to end.

One for ages that harked back to our original RCCC Annual Outing 7 years ago. We may be slightly older, probably slightly wiser but we still love a curry and beers session with great mates and lots of stories – In saecula saeculorum RCCC!

Service: 5.0/5

Curry: 5.0/5

Total: 10/10

Punky Brewster, 22B Tyne Street

Given mall based curryhouses are pretty popular and we’ve visited several in the last 7 years, it’s surprising we haven’t visited the Palms before. To rectify that, 8 RCCC members dodged the strung out Shirleyites and opened up the account at the Fox & Ferret. There were some sights to be seen given the sunny classic beer drinking weather and those member who got dreessed up were defintely wishing they wore shorts. The only downside was the rather eye watering beer prices at the Fox, although some of the craftier members had arrived early enough to hit Happy Hour prices – Huzzah!

In typical fashion there was much reluctance to leave our sunny perch but at the appointed hour we trundled off to Perfect Plate. The Jalfrezi was said to be more medium than medium hot, but everyone cleaned up their plates so that speaks to how good the spicy fare was. On the starter and accoutrement front, the Roti was bloody great, and the Onion Bhaji was very tasty. Service was friendly and attentive but there was the reappearance of the old curry auction, which knocked a couple points off the service score. Prices were pretty reasonable so it’s definitely a place that offers good value and a solid curry.

The current holder of the FOMO trophy, KS was away, no doubt washing his nuts in the bowl as is his wont, and with the CoTM trophy currently AWOL, the traditional monthly awards were a non-event. Despite this, spirits were high with the prospect of the RCCC Annual Outing at the end of November. A couple unsatiated punters slunk back to the Fox for a nightcap to round out a cracking night out.

Service: 4.0/5

Curry: 3.8/5

Total: 7.8/10

Perfect Plate, 18 Marshland Rd

Indian Zaika recently moved to a bigger premise just a couple doors up Papanui Road so it would have been rude not to check out. It had been less than a year since our previous visitation, but a new premise counts as a new curryhouse according to the Maharajah, so off we went. There was much schoolboy level chatter about the pre-dinner drinks venue. According to scribbled notes on the back of the bogs at the RCCC clubhouse, many a hungry cougar was known to stalk the hallways of the booze-soaked den of iniquity that is No.4 Bar. Giddy at the prospect, a sizeable contingent of chaps skipped on down to Merivale, ready for a mauling.

Once firmly ensconced at Indian Zaika with a cold Kingfisher in hand, we could admire the uprated furnishings and spacious surroundings of the new place. The menu didn’t appear to have changed, which is good because it was pretty good last time. The prawn saagwala was a popular choice with EK and his merry band of converts. Are the Saag Bros the new Banquet Bros? There was also the Carlos naan topped with enough garlic to kill a vampire at 10 paces and in general the spice level was found to be as advertised. Service was a wee bit slow, no doubt due to the extra surveillance certain members warranted – see below.

KS was duly awarded the FOMO trophy for his many dine and dash sins which he confessed to on the night. The staff were quite correctly watching him like a hawk after that. Despite best attempts to appeal to the apex predators at No.4, all the members made it safely home – perhaps the beer and curry soaked flesh wasn’t that appealing. The CoTM trophy is still MIA and everyone to a man swore on his RCCC blazer that they didn’t possess it, so its mysterious disappearance continues. The Raj is getting a twitchy trigger finger so expect a blowout and purge of the ranks when he gets back from his Calimunching tour…

Service: 3.6/5

Curry: 4.2/5

Total: 7.8/10

Indian Zaika, 231 Papanui Rd

The Jolly Poacher was pre-earthquake favourite with its central location and a tendency to close very late, hitting the spot for many. It’s back, so the somewhat depleted RCCC regiment decamped to salubrious surrounds of Victoria Street to see what the fuss was all about – and eat some curry of course.

Liquid libations liberated and it was onto Gunpowder Indian Restaurant and Bar. We had visited this establishment in a previous guise at least twice before so would the curry and the service be up to snuff? The staff were certainly impressed with the blazers (who can resist a man in uniform?) and dished out free chocolate naans and ice cream. The naans were delicious but Chicken Jalfrezi was found to be underwhelming with too much cream action and not enough pepper. Fortunately, our resident Jalfrezi fiend RT was not in attendance, so the RCCC gentlemen were spared the sight of one of their own in tears of disappointment. The extensive beer selection was also mentioned. Curry score was a middling 3.8/5 but high marks for the service dragged up the overall score to a respectable 8.3/10.

During the meal the looming difficult decision of the day was discussed: Hiding out at Calendar Girls putting notes through the letterboxes or off to the Casino to lose next week’s pay check on the nags. Those crafty lads of the RCCC certainly covered their tracks well as digital evidence is lacking at this time – nice work!

Service: 4.5/5

Curry: 3.8/5

Total:8.3/10

Gunpowder Indian Restaurant & Bar, 53 Victoria St

The Maharajah thought a shake-up was required for the August visitation so ordered his hungry knights down to ye olde Tudor’s Restaurant and Bar for Thursday Curry Night. In a first for the RCCC, and what every wet dream of the Banquet Bros must be like, this was a buffet type arrangement with loads of Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepalese dishes on offer. And salads, breads and even desserts for the brave.

After fiddling with some dusty suits of armour and clearing the dusty throats with the Kingfisher included in the buffet, the hard task of narrowing down the choices of dishes began. One of the early winners was the beef vindaloo but sadly its popularity proved its downfall and those prone to dithering, had to make do with a sweet n sour pork instead. There was also the RCCC favourite, goat on the menu as well as lots of poppadoms, pickles and all the usual accoutrements that make up a good curry munching. The Raj made special mention of the samosas for their petite deliciousness and different types of rice were also noted.

The scores on the RCCC curryometer were on the lower side but the feedback seemed to be positive from the crew in attendance so maybe the curryometer needs a Ctrl-Alt-Delete. Possibly the Banquet Bros have hacked the website so that we stay away from the Buffet competition. Regardless, lots of fun was had by all and its always good to change things up once in a while.

Service: 4.0/5

Curry: 2.0/5

Total: 6.0/10

Tudor’s Restaurant & Bar, 88 Papanui Rd

Once the obligatory seat swapping and furniture re-arranging was complete, the Currymas could begin. Our seating was less in the centre of the room than last year, no doubt an attempt to ensure we didn’t scare off passing punters looking for somewhere to munch – didn’t work mind! The round or two of cold Kingfisher plus the off mango lassie ensured that the visitation was loud and proud. The Secret Santa session was surprisingly restained with the quality of the gifts much improved on previous years.

Food and service scores were a little down on last years Currymas. The meat was abit lacking amongst the gravy on more than one dish but the Jalfrezi was perfectly spiced – so it was a bit of a mixed bag. Making up for that was a gratis dessert for everyone which the Banquet Bros were a bit dark about but they’ll get over it.

MD took the FOMO trophy for being a CoTM. The CoTM trophy is currently MIA but will no doubt surface at some stage and promptly be re- awarded back to the current deserved holder.

Service: 3.8/5

Curry: 4.3/5

Total: 8.1/10

Saket, 76 Edgeware Rd

After a couple recent painful revisitations (ahem Pepper Bridge anyone?), it was time to venture to the Town of the Future aka Rolleston for a first visit. A decision no doubt influenced by promises of awesome curry from SC and a sizeable contribution to our Benevolent Maharajah’s ponzi fund. First though, the thirsty throng had to slake their thirsty at Drafters Bar after the long trek to the wop wops.

There are now 5 Coriander’s in Christchurch and surrounds, which is a testament to solid formula they have hit on. It keeps the punters happy and coming back for more. The 11 RCCC members who fronted were treated to the usual Coriander’s quality food and hospitality. Lamb kadai and the Special kebabs were called out for special mention, as was the portion sizing, which is alway good thing when so many have travelled so far and worked up a good appetite. The decor also seemed to resonate with the Raj as he plotted the theme for the mid-Winter visitation in July.

On the other side of the world our self-proclaimed globe-trotting curry reviewer MD, was in Azafran in Broomfield, Colorado checking out the latest in personal weaponry and conducting his own re-visitation, the 3rd in 9 months apparently. He started off with the lip numbing and sweat inducing goodness that is firecracker chicken, paired with wine for a change. His main meal of choice was goat, not just any standard goat, this was goat on the bone – fancy AF! Service was adjudged to be very attentive. Almost as attentive as when one waves notes at scantily clad ladies (or men) in various darkened establishments but those comments are probably from his notes on the after-dinner festivities…

Despite the perfect 10 score from the US of A Muncher, the NZ visitation dragged things down a bit, but was still lots of fun. Always good times when the RCCC is in town.

Service: 3.4/5

Curry: 4.0/5

Total: 7.4/10

Coriander’s Rolleston, 70-76 Rolleston Dr

The old saying goes: Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. To that we can now add that Pepper Bridge will be dry…First off, we gathered at The Miller for some delightful Murphy’s Stout and people watching. A youthful throng of runners were assembled across the road from the pub, fresh from chasing the runners high. We watched, smug in the knowledge that nothing beats the highs (and sometimes lows) of chasing curry in Christchurch.

Pepper Bridge has shifted premise since our last official visitation, fortunately the Trimble construction support team has been doing regular Thursday recces so we knew standards had not dropped in the move. Unfortunately, the move necessitated a re-application of a liquor licence and so this was another bloody dry visitation! This is despite the Pepper Bridge website saying otherwise.

There were some curry callouts including the mushroom mata and garlic cheese naan being very good and attractively priced. The bhaji was a bit below par though and there was a general feeling that the heat could have been turned up a notch – something to bear in mind for a revisit. This will need to be when the booze situation has been rectified as this is no doubt affecting current patronage. It was so quiet that you could hear a mouse pi$$ing on a cotton ball. It’s amazing the noise and atmosphere a couple people enjoying their meal with a beer generates. It certainly makes for a more enjoyable night and also draws others into the curry house.

The Maharajah should have been awarded the CoTM award for yet again dragging the Munchers to a dry Pepper Bridge (this being our 3rd visitation). However, the trophy ended up being awarded to JB for his scandalous suggestion that we not drink the illicit hip flask booze that we had snuck in. That PC nonsense has no place in a drinking club that has a curry problem. Then it was back to The Miller for some more loud-mouth soup to solve all the problems of the world.

Service: 3.8/5

Curry: 4.6/5

Total: 8.4/10

Pepper Bridge, 300 Lincoln Rd

In a break from tradition, the April visitation did not start at a local watering-hole, tavern or pub, instead we started at new venue on the scene, Trev’s Man Cave. Whether it was too many bevvies at Two Thumbs Brewery at the previous visitation or just sheer reckless disregard for his safety once his wife was found out the Curry Crew had been invited home. There was no going back. Given previous efforts for birthdays and RCCC trips it was no surprise that all the stops had been pulled out – Trev’s Man Cave has got it going on! It was also fairly evident by the grumbles as our 7pm dining period approached, that everyone to a man, would have happily flagged dinner and carried on the beery business of boozing and bullshit.

Corianders is one of those solid and dependable type places where it does what says on the tin. Service this time was a bit pedestrian and included the usual curry lottery, but it made for entertaining banter and kept everyone on their toes. Curry was actually very good and rated a 4.5 /5 of the RCCC curry scores which is right near the top of the list. The Jalfrezi was absolutly banging with perfect medium hotness and sumptious flavour.

There is a vague recollection of the Maharajah being awarded one or both trophies for chosing a child’s birthday over Curry Club, and if he wasn’t, he should have been… After dinner there was defitely some keenness to return to the Cave for more vexillology and band poster discussions. But, fortunately good sense won out and the members slipped off into the night with much dusting of the crops as they went. There are plans afoot to have a round two at the Cave – I’m frothing at the prospect.

Service: 3.8/5

Curry: 4.5/5

Total: 8.3/10

Coriander’s Sumner, 11A Wakefield Ave