Once again we welcomed visitors of both sexes and, for the second time in a row, a guest chef. This week, it was Vikram, the owner/chef of Nithik’s Kitchen restaurant at Rozelle, well known to many members including Paul Thorne who organised Vikram’s appearance and helped in the kitchen. Word got out and around 48 members and guests were on hand to enjoy some quality food (and an eclectic range of wines).

We started with pieces of chicken thigh, fried in a spicy masala batter; and soft little lentil dumpling pillows, served with two types of fresh chutneys: mint and coconut. It was a great way to start proceedings, leaving a slight tingle on the tongue, inadequately addressed by a pink sparkling moscato from the Hunter which was too sweet to be refreshing. Some other bottles circulated, including a 1989 Lindemans Hunter Semillon, which was still eminently drinkable, and the ubiquitous sherry.

As the main course, Vikram produced two curries: a dry lamb with pieces of meat enveloped in a sticky crust made on peppercorns, aniseed, curry leaves and red chili, which was moist and very flavoursome; and a fish curry made with a blend of mango and fresh tamarind which suited the flavour and texture of the fish. Both were served at table on large plates for everyone to help themselves, along with an earthy dhal made on red lentils and, of course, lots of well cooked and seperated boiled rice. South Indian food of distinction, it was valiantly matched by a 2014 Provencal rose, quite full for its style and with a touch of sweetness which balanced the spices in the food well. The other wine, a 2009 Ch Grolet Cotes de Bourg from Bordeaux and predominantly merlot, was soft and savoury but a bit overwhelmed by the food.

Any doubts as to the suitability of a cheese after curry were dispelled by the quality on offer. A semi-hard cheese with loads of sweet nutty flavour and a good dry paste, many thought it was French; but it was in fact a young Pyengana cheddar from Tasmania, upholding its reputation as one of the country’s finest cheeses. Predictably good Iggy’s sourdough accompanied it, washed down by more unusual wines: a 2009 Ch Aydie Madiran from the S-W of France made mainly from the difficult grape tannat and showing tough tannins on the palate which will soften with time; and back home with a 1996 Bowen cabernet from Coonawarra, still sound but with a green leaf bitterness which detracted from the finish.

The coffee was a predictably good Kenya AA bean, light but fragrant and with a long citrusy finish. Also on offer was a special tea made by Spencer Ferrier from a blend of Fortnum & Mason English Breakfast and Australian Breakfast teas, acclaimed by those who tried it; and a bonus sticky from Paul Ferman in the shape of a 2011 Ch La Rame from Sainte-Croix-du- Mont, one of the lesser Sauternes regions, but displaying a nice apricot nose and good sweet fruit characters in a softer, less acid, style.