Newsletter

First Quarter

2007 

I would like to wish you all a very warm welcome to 2007. 

In my newsletter reports, I want to keep you informed of some of the happenings taking place at your club. In February, I am introducing a Chef’s Table in the Main Dining Room. This is a table dedicated exclusively to items that the Chef and I are considering to have included on the menu and your comments will be asked for so as to enable us to make a final decision. 

The new Rand Club website is nearing completion and I think that you will all find the site exciting, informative and easy to use. I have even implemented online bookings to simplify choosing your favourite function. 

By the end of February 2007, we should have finished installing a new P.O.S. (Point of Sales) system in the club. This will mean that hand written invoices will no longer apply. Please note that with the introduction of this system, coupons will no longer be accepted as a form of payment. However we will be giving a grace period in which members can be refunded in cash the unused coupons still in their possession. 

As is always necessary from time to time, there will be some price changes taking place within the Food & Beverage of the club. I have tried to make sure that our prices will stay in line with other institutions similar to ours. The good news is that I think you’ll find our French wines will be cheaper than anywhere else in the Gauteng area. 

I am happy to announce that interest in our club from younger members of society is growing considerably and we have set a target of 100 new members for the calendar year. 

After the success of the last Rugby event with Percy Montgomery, look out for the next Rugby event that should be taking place shortly. Hopefully we will have Hennie Le Roux as the guest speaker. 

If you are a card player, then watch out for a Bridge and Poker club soon to be started at the Rand Club.

THE RAND CLUB BUSINESS AND  INVESTMENT  SOCIETY (formerly RIB club), this club will now be held on the first Monday of every month.

Parking in Surrey House is still available during lunchtime, from 12h00 to 14h00. Members please be aware, that on exiting Surrey House parking it is your responsibility to pay for the parking time used and you house account at the club will be reimbursed.  Please ask the cashier on duty to stamp your meal ticket before you leave the club. This facility is for members only. There is additional parking within walking distance of the club at Beyers Naude Square and Gandhi Square, for members guests.

A reminder to members that the minimum requirement of dress is - Gentlemen - traditional African dress (including Nehru collars), throughout the club. Smart Casual – open necked long/short sleeved shirts. 

T-shirts of any kind, jeans, leather jackets, golf shirts, trainers and/or shorts are not acceptable.  

Ladies dress is Smart Casual. 

Members are reminded to ensure that their guests are made aware of the Dress Rules when visiting the Club.

Dress code for special functions will be specified in the newsletter

A REMINDER to all members that a requirement of the Clubs Act is that member's must sign their guests in when entering the premises.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

By the arrangement of Pat Corbin,  the Johannesburg Brass Band, yet again, outdid themselves at the annual Seasonal Concert, attended by more than 130 people this year.  The food was superb, and members and guests went away happy and in a festive spirit for the forthcoming Christmas holidays.

Following the History Association meeting on 25/1/2007 - a book belonging to the guest speaker Mr Tom Wheeler has been mislaid.

Book Title: “Ancient Turkey: A traveler’s history of Anatolia”

Author: Seaton Lloyd, London 1989

If found please return to Roanne @ Rand Club  

The Union League Club of Chicago in the USA, have informed us of their 127, guestroom construction from January to June 2007,  The first phase will be until March 2007 and the second phase will be until June in which the remainder of the 60 rooms will be refurbished.  It is suggested that should you wish to stay overnight during this period, advance bookings be made.

The St James Club and Hotel in London will be closing it’s doors from 20th October 2006 for a complete renovation programme - they plan to re-open in August 2007.  No bookings will be accepted during this time.

The Hurlingham Club - has ruled that temporary reciprocity membership will cease from January 2007 - this particularly effects the members of the Rand Club who are residing in the United Kingdom.  Rand Club members are still  permitted by the club to visit a maximum of fourteen (14) times per year.

UNION CLUB & University and Schools Club of Sydney – will be amalgamating.  This happened on 31 January 2007.  The name of the new club is “Union, University & Schools Club of Sydney.  Rand Club’s reciprocal agreement will remain unchanged.

Inanda Club require any new members visiting Inanda Club, to either have a letter of intro or an Inanda/Rand Club card.  Should you not have a Rand Club/Inanda card, please inform Roanne.

There will be some major alterations at the Inanda Club during 2007 and they tell us this will cause some inconvenience.

Inanda Club will advise Rand Club on a regular basis as to the progress of the project and the plans for the clubhouse as they are finalised.

Inanda have also told us, that The Forum will assume responsibility for the food & beverage functions at the club for members and functions.  The Forum is a successful company operating in the Functions/Conferencing and Catering business in Johannesburg and will invest R14m in significantly upgrading the entire club house complex to an agreed standard and lease the conference facilities for a period of 15 years.

For many members the Library is the focal point of their visit to the club and we would encourage all members to make use of it.  Our Librarian Mrs Beth Strachan is in the Library on Fridays from 10am to 2pm. The Library Committee meets every second month in order to select new books both non-fiction and fiction. If a particular title is not available when you visit, please leave a note for Beth and she will look into it.

1st Prize - R2 895.00 - GF Richarson

MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ARE REMINDED CELLPHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE USED IN THE CLUB

PLEASE SWITCH THEM OFF ON ENTERING THE PREMISES

Hello 2007!  would like to  wish all our members a happy and prosperous New Year.  With the New Year I have been invited to create a cooking column in your newsletter.  I see this as a great privilege and write with much enthusiasm.

Over the years my curries have been accepted with enormous popularity and we, in the kitchen, are very proud.  With this in mind I think it appropriate that I share a little knowledge on the preparation of curries.  The lamb curry which we serve at the club is based on the Indian/Pakistani dish, Rogan Josh.  Why I say Indian/Pakistani is that the origin of the dish is North-Western India, formally West Pakistan.  This curry,  in its original form, is drier and has a higher percentage of chili than I use.  The changes to the original recipe have been made to make the dish more palatable to the average South African.

The other curry served at your club is Jhinga Kari, which is a  South Indian Prawn Curry. Again I have made a change to the original recipe and have omitted coconut milk for cream and have reduced the chili content.  Curry today has fast become the food of choice in England for persons looking for something other than the run of the mill franchise type meals, almost taking the place of old English Fish and Chips.

What to drink when eating curry?  Personally I would recommend a Lager, although cold water or fruit juice is often more appropriate.  Fine dry white wine does not work with curries, but if you really must to have wine, I would recommend a semi-sweet white wine.

Method: Shell and de-vein the prawns. Put desiccated coconut in a dry pan and toast over medium heat, shaking and stirring constantly until coconut is golden brown.  Remove from pan and do the same with the ground rice.  Put both into blender with about half a cup of the cream and blend until smooth and coconut is very finely ground.  Heat ghee in a saucepan and fry the curry leaves for about 1 minute.  Add onions, garlic and ginger and fry until golden brown, stirring with a wooden spoon.  Add curry powder, chili powder and paprika and fry on a low heat, stirring constantly. Do not let the spices burn.  Add blended mixture, cream and salt, stir while bringing to the simmer point.  Do not cover.  Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add prawns, stir into mixture and simmer for a further 10-15 minutes or until prawns are cooked and gravy thick.  Stir in lemon juice.  Serve with rice.

K Kotze

The Goosey Kestos twins

Naturally there have been countless dinners at the Club, most of them elegant and decorous, others doubtless less restrained. Some members have taken great pains to mark the entertainment of friends and colleagues in extra-special ways.  Perhaps one of the most remarkable and memorable was a dinner party in honour of Lieut-Colonel Jose Reinhardt, AFC.  The arrangements were in the hands of Mr GH Cotton, CBE (later Brigadier), Mr HG (Lal) Harraway and MR AG.

Norris, who felt that two special guests should be invited. Harraway bought two live geese at Newtown Market, dressed them up as a couple of ladies with stylish dresses, bow ties and toy hats and after carefully photographing them stored them away in two boxes in the Club  basement. As the dinner progressed the geese were introduced to the party.  They strutted around the large private dining room with swaggering unconcern as the diners looked on, some in consternation and some convulsed with laughter.  Then one of the geese - nobody’s sure whether she was a lady—caught its foot in the strap of the bra it was wearing and honked its protest. The cacophony was echoed by the companion goose and the Club reverberated with the din.

Stewards and residents rushed in to find out the cause of the shattering, of the normal  nocturnal peace of the Club. The geese were rapidly captured and returned to the basement while the diners reverted to honouring Reinhardt.