Grand Hyatt Xi’an Food Festival: Chef Pan Yafei Hand-Pulls Belt Noodles

Reported by Wei Huaxuan, photographed by Liu Zhihang / Taipei

The Café at Grand Hyatt Taipei is hosting the Xi’an Food Festival from March 10 to 23. Guest Chef Pan Yafei from Grand Hyatt Singapore will present handcrafted noodles bursting with bold flavors such as “Spicy Oil Noodles,” “Qishan Sausage Noodles,” and “Zucchini Dumplings,” and will also give a live noodle-making demonstration showcasing his exceptional skills.

▲ Chef Pan Yafei demonstrates noodle-pulling techniques — no thickness or thinness is too challenging for him. (Photo / Reporter Liu Zhihang)

The Xi’an Food Festival event presents authentic hometown flavors of Xi’an through Chef Pan Yafei’s cooking. Kai Speth, General Manager of Grand Hyatt Taipei, noted that Xi’an cuisine reflects the culture of China’s historical dynasties. He emphasized that all seasonings and chili oils were specially brought by Chef Pan Yafei himself. The chili oil, though bright red and seemingly fiery, is actually not very spicy but instead richly aromatic and appetite-whetting. Chef Pan recommends two particularly spicy and flavorful dishes: “Spicy Oil Noodles” and “Qishan Sausage Noodles.” These dishes combine the texture of handmade pulled noodles, the fragrance of chili, and a touch of sweetness, making them true spicy treasures of Xi’an cuisine.

▲ % Chef Pan showcases the standout spicy oil noodles. (Photo / Reporter Liu Zhihang)