Stiff Chilli Part i

The Sunday Times 100 Best Dishes article (front page)
October 14, 2007

A trip to Stiff Chilli in Jalan Besar, Singapore, is a walk down Balinese memory lane. On the walls hang framed black and white memories of royalty and coy Balinese girls with sarongs around their waists, and not much else.

Chef and proprietor Rodney Holt is passionate about preserving the history of Bali as he is with dishing out the best pasta. The Australian who worked as Italian chef with Aman Resorts and Hyatt Indonesia and F&B Director with Begawan Giri Resort loves culture and history, which may have something to do with meeting his wife AAA Putri Girindrawardani who descends from Bali royalty. Her grandfather, Ketut Ngurah Karangasem, was the last king to reside in the palace that’s at risk of ruin due to age and neglect. --- extracted from http://www.stiffchilli.com/

Before I start, you have been forewarned -
I LIKE STIFF CHILLI. Thus, my reviews may sound biased.

Stiff Chilli's menu is simple trattoria - a few good antipasti, a great selection of thin crust pizzas and pastas. A fine wine list, and divine gelatos to round it up.

They have no linen table clothes, too bad if you're that particular. But the friendly and helpful service from Mister Cool Bernard would suffice. :D

Do listen to his recommendations. This guy is the only waiter in the restaurant so he does everything and knows his stuff very well. Catch him on a good day and he'll even throw in complimentary shots. But more often than not he displays a rather unusual sense of humour.

Don't get what I mean? Then you must visit Stiff Chilli. Go, go!

The unique lampshades, look carefully... what do you see... heehee, plastic food covers!! Smart.

And inverted Stiff Chilli signage.

The Starters

Complimentary Bread, served with a mini platter of sauces, namely olive oil, vinegar and chilli sauce. Bread is fresh from the oven, so so good and you can ask for refills. !! Ahh boys, don't you like it already?


I'm such a failure I can't remember all of the names for the dishes.. boohoo... I was very hungry you know? And thrilled... and distracted by the all the quirky fixtures set in the original post-war conditions...and and... the disturbing ching-chong karaoke emanating from upstairs... you get the drift?

To the best of my memory... that's pumpkin soup and rocket salad with parma cheese at the back.

Calling it seafood fettucine would be too cliché so I shall leave it anonymous.

This is by far the best pasta I've had in Singapore. Looks are deceiving so don't judge. Eat to judge. Eat Hard.

.... I think that is foie gras with steak.

hahaha! Thanks for putting up with me...

Coming from me you will know this is not the end of Stiff Chilli... so stayed tuned.

I'm still trying to figure what did Bernard mixed into the shot that got me.... all dizzy fuzzy.


Address:
279 Jalan Besar
Tel: 6297 5509

Operating Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am - 2am
(Closed on Mondays)