'Knife-cut noodle' chef slices way to success
China DailyPukhova enjoys a bowl of knife-cut noodles at Zhao's restaurant. Determined to learn from his mistakes, he traveled across the country to look for business opportunities, study business management and explore different culinary traditions. A pivotal moment came during a conversation with a friend, who suggested that he highlight the cultural significance of knife-cut noodles and his family's history with the dish at his restaurants. He took his friend's advice and reopened his noodle shops in 2008 with decorations celebrating the business tradition of Shanxi merchants and the culture of the region and the dish. After meeting and talking with Diana Pukhova, a Russian woman who studies at Shanxi University, Zhao said he is thinking about introducing knife-cut noodles to other parts of the world.