{{Short description|Singaporean chef}} {{Malay name|Aziza|Ali|note=on}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Aziza Ali | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Chef, Food consultant, Businessperson, Artist, Jeweller, & Author | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}

'''Aziza Ali''' is a Singaporean former chef, food consultant, businessperson, artist, jeweller, and author.<ref name="Life! 1">{{cite news|newspaper=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/spice-life-former-restaurateur-aziza-ali-busy-woman-20130506 |title=Spice of life: Former restaurateur Aziza Ali is a busy woman |first=Rebecca Lynne |last=Tan |date=6 May 2013 }} {{subscription required}}</ref> She is recognised with opening Singapore's first Malay restaurant,<ref name="Yahoo 1"/> as well as bringing fine Malay dining to the Singaporean public.<ref name="Life! 1"/><ref name="ST 1"/>

==Early life== The second of eight children, Aziza grew up in a kampung situated in Radin Mas, Singapore.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Her father, a draughtsman, was a member of the Colombo Plan.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Her mother, a housewife, was well-skilled in cooking and Aziza was taught the trade in her childhood. Her sister, Faridah Ali Chang, is now a psychologist. Aziza was educated at CHIJ Saint Theresa's Convent.<ref name="Life! 1"/> After sitting for her GCE Ordinary Level examinations, she briefly worked as a relief teacher, a clerk, and a broker, before establishing Aziza's, a fine-dining restaurant serving Malay food, which was described as "unheard of" during the time.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Aziza's "took Malay food to an international level",<ref name="Life! 1"/> according to former ''The Straits Times'' food writer Violet Oon.<ref name="Life! 1"/>

==Career== Cited to be the best known Malay restaurant in Singapore,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Food of Singapore: Authentic Recipes from the Manhattan of the East |page=17 |year=1995 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |isbn=9789625930077 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6D4FLfdsaQC&pg=PA17 }}</ref> Aziza's was originally an unfurnished shophouse<ref name="Life! 1"/> at 36 Emerald Hill Road<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/24/travel/what-s-doing-in-singapore.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=WHAT'S DOING IN: Singapore |date=24 December 1989 |last=Erlanger |first=Steve }}</ref> before Aziza purchased it in 1978 for S$150,000.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Aziza's opened in 1979,<ref name="Life! 1"/> becoming Singapore's first Malay restaurant.<ref name="Yahoo 1">{{cite news |url=http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/religion-superstitions-dining-business-104949461.html |title=Religion and Superstitions in the Dining Business |last=Ng |first=Sheere |date=27 March 2013 |archive-date=4 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604000849/http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/religion-superstitions-dining-business-104949461.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The restaurant is notable for having been patronised by Dione Warwick and James Ingram, as well as band Inner Circle, among others.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Superstitious in nature, she would recite the Qur'an before opening time, as well as invite an imam to bless the restaurant regularly.<ref name="Yahoo 1"/> Famous for its spicy beef rendang,<ref>{{cite book|title=Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore |first=Wendy |last=Moore |isbn=9789625931791 |year=1998 |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAts5fch8fsC&pg=PA295 |page=295 }}</ref> it won the Singapore Tourism Board's Best Dining Experience Award in 1996.<ref name="Life! 1"/>

Aziza's moved to Albert Court after being chased away by authorities in July 1995, after three lawsuits, in which Aziza won during the first two but ultimately lost in the third. Despite business being successful, Aziza was forced to close her restaurant following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, in 1998. Aziza then set up a food catering stall at Shaw Tower; it folded less than a year into business.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Owing to her age, Aziza has declined offers to re-open Aziza's. She has appeared on television programmes to promote Malay food<ref>{{cite book|title=Frommer's Singapore & Malaysia |year=1998 |isbn=9780028620992 |publisher=Macmillan Travel |first=Jennifer |last=Eveland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ojid8kAbMcC |page=116}}</ref> and has written one cookbook, titled ''Aziza's Creative Malay Cuisine'', which was published in 2001.<ref name="Life! 1"/> A self-taught artist, Aziza's artworks are priced at several thousand dollars; she has held two solo art exhibitions (2008 and 2010).<ref name="Life! 1"/> Aziza also designs jewellery, which is then sold by her Emirati acquaintance.<ref name="Life! 1"/> Aziza's 2013 memoir, titled ''Sambal Days, Kampong Cuisine'', was released in March. It mainly discusses her childhood.<ref name="ST 1">{{cite news|newspaper=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/chef-aziza-ali-launches-new-book-learning-cook-her-childhood-days-2013 |title=Chef Aziza Ali launches new book on learning to cook in her childhood days |first=Jan |last=Lee |date=7 March 2013 }} {{subscription required}}</ref> She resides in Novena, Singapore.<ref name="Life! 1"/>

The irrepressible Aziza Ali, a Malay Singaporean success story. Part I: Singapore's doyenne of Malay cuisine and fine dining<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alen |date=2022-04-14 |title=The irrepressible Aziza Ali, a Malay Singaporean success story. Part I: Singapore's doyenne of Malay cuisine and fine dining |url=https://observerid.com/the-irrepressible-aziza-ali-a-malay-singaporean-success-story-part-i-singapores-doyenne-of-malay-cuisine-and-fine-dining/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=OBSERVER - the latest information about Indonesian news and social culture |language=en-US}}</ref>

The irrepressible Aziza Ali, a Malay woman who succeeded in Singapore. Part II: Radin Mas, the village that nurtured her and a lost Malay world<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alen |date=2022-04-28 |title=The irrepressible Aziza Ali, a Malay woman who succeeded in Singapore. Part II: Radin Mas, the village that nurtured her and a lost Malay world |url=https://observerid.com/the-irrepressible-aziza-ali-a-malay-woman-who-succeeded-in-singapore-part-ii-radin-mas-the-village-that-nurtured-her-and-a-lost-malay-world/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=OBSERVER - the latest information about Indonesian news and social culture |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book|title=Sambal Days, Kampong Cuisine |publisher=Ate |year=2013 |first=Ali |last=Aziza |location=Singapore }}

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Category:Singaporean chefs Category:Singaporean designers Category:Singaporean people of Malay descent Category:Living people Category:21st-century Singaporean businesswomen Category:1950 births Category:20th-century Singaporean businesspeople Category:21st-century Singaporean businesspeople