Chief brand chilli sauce - a recommendation

[whiffy]

I did the regular ritual of trawling through every Asian/Jamaican/Turkish/Other shop between West Croydon and Norbury this afternoon, hunting out chilli sauces. One I have never tried before is called "Chief". They make both a red and a yellow sauce, both chunky with pips, basically macerated scotch bonnets. The red one is superb, I will have to go back next weekend and buy a few more in case they run out. It is similar to Encona, but hotter. Lovely instructions as well: "Add to taste"

Do you have a favourite chilli sauce?

[The Keeper]

I've never seen that one before, but will be on the lookout from now on. As a matter of interest, what do you actually do with the chilli sauce? I find that mine are left in the cupboards until they go out of date. It sounds a silly question, but do you add it to stews, etc or use it like ketchup. Many thanks.

[Eve]

Have to say I'm more of a sweet chilli girl.

[wiggal]

Me to Jenna!
Its all about sweet chilli!!

[whiffy]

Keeper, I use chilli sauce as a table condiment, much as tomato ketchup or salad cream. In fact the only meal to which I do not add chilli sauce is spaghetti bolognaise.

I don't add them to curries, except for Kitchen Magic Bengali Naga peppers.

Chilli sauces can't go out of date surely? What is there to go off? In these Chief ones anyway there is vinegar and sodium benzoate.

Tonight I'm going to smother peas and turkey breast with
the red sauce.

[Jugglering]

I have two favourite chilli sauces - Tesco's Sweet Chilli Sauce which is brilliant with a cheese & onion/tomato toasted sandwich (and not really hot at all) and Encona carribbean hot pepper sauce which is gorgeous poured over a veg and noodle stir fry, along with teriyaka sauce.... (esp good with loads of different veg, egg noodles and chick peas)

What a shame I am having a not too much chilli dinner in a mo.... red pepper, onion, chilli and three cheese quiche (mustard pastry) with crushed potatoes and sweetcorn !

[funnygirl]

I love the Encona range.

In fact i've got a bottle of their Sweet Chili sauce and chili barbeque sauce.

Sometimes I add these to cooking to spice it up a little.

[pastafreak]

Saw this today and thought of you whiff...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/how aboutthat/2531093/Britains-biggest-chilli-fest ival-is-hot.html

[Ice.Maiden]

Try these people whiffy. We've had some of their sauces - and if you like them hot, they'll bring a smile to your face.

http://www.funkypepper.co.uk/

[heathfield]

Aaah! Chief Brand... Listen, Whiffey, If that shop sells Chief Brand Ground Black Pepper, then let me know! It's wonderful - the most pungent in the world. I used to always bring back a dozen tubs of it from my hols in the Caribbean, but I'm down to my last two these days. Grab it if they have it.

[funnygirl]

I must look out for this range, it seems to be getting good reviews!!!

[Brooksy]

What number London Road please whiffy - I can`t find Dave`s Insanity Chilli Sauce locally, so have tried all the rest but no real comparison. Will take your recommendation for the Chief red. Cheers.

[whiffy]

Brooksy, I don't know what number, but coming out of West Croydon going north, cross the Sumner Road junction (where there are all the roadworks), and there is a parade of shops on the left. You can get Chief sauces in the one at the far end, by the Bensham Lane lights. It's a murky little place, the chilli sauces are at the back on the left.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=531750 &y=166750&z=1&sv=531750,166750&st=4&ar=N&mapp= newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=530416&ay= 168046

I don't think you will find Dave's Insanity sauce locally. House of Fraser had it for a short while, but at an equally insane price.

The very very best one is Pickle 'N' Spice Hot West Indian Peppers, (the successor to Kitchen Magic) but it's from Harrow and I've only ever seen it locally in one shop at Pollards Hill (where I bought the entire stock) and he hasn't had it in for several weeks now. I've still got 6 full jars though.

Baron Blazing Hot Pepper Sauce is good as well, but I only found 2 bottles on Sunday, in that same parade, about 3 doors further down towards Croydon.

[whiffy]

If you're from Croydon, I'm sure you'll know that another very good stretch of Asian/West Indian shops is between West Croydon station and Rockbottom guitar shop. The one opposite Rockbottom has a wide range, and just a few up is a Turkish(?) shop which stocks a red pepper sauce from Melis which is surprisingly piquant (and laxative!)

[Brooksy]

Aaaaaarrrgh!! Can you burn out taste buds? Many thanks Whiffy, will try all those asap!