Iranian has passion for beef noodle soup

For Iran-born Davod Bagherzadeh, though, beef noodle soup has been more than his favorite dish for the last 15 years. It has become his means of livelihood since he opened the “Laowai's Beef Noodles” (老外一品牛肉麵) in Taipei City's Zhongshan District.

“I first came to Taiwan to do some business, before my friends introduced me to one of the local specialties: 'Niu Rou Mian,'” he said.

“I didn't even know what that was at that time! After having a taste, I fell in love with the dish. Since then, I had always wanted to run a beef noodle shop but hardly got the chance until last year,” he explained. “I fulfilled my dreams.”

Without a doubt, Davod seems to have adopted the local cuisine and culture altogether. He now speaks fluent Chinese with a little bit of a Taiwanese accent.

Acting like any local food store-owner, the Iranian welcomes guests at the entrance of his restaurant while recommending one of the most popular dishes on the menu: “Braised beef noodles soup” (紅燒牛肉麵), which is marked by an exotic fragrance.

“The seasoning in the braised soup includes star anise, Chinese pepper, onions, tomatoes and a special ingredient — Persian spices that I brought back form Iran,” he told The China Post.

Since its opening last year, the restaurant's reputation has drawn attention ranging from local gourmets to people from other counties and cities, remarked the chef with a smile.

Even if the journey to become a cook in Taiwan has not always been easy, Davod stated resolvedly that he likes to bump into difficulties and will stick to the end until the problems are solved.

His next challenge will be on this weekend. Davod will be participating in this year's International Niu Rou Mian Festival. “The organizer actually invited me to join the event following one of my guests' recommendations,” the chef said.

The Beef Noodle Festival and contest take place once a year in Taipei, attracting thousands of onlookers as well as hundreds of business owners every year.

If you want to have a bite at Davod's beef noodle soup, please visit him in his restaurant located No. 403 Jilin Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City (台北市中山區吉林路403號)

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