Oodles of noodles: Meet the chef who'll gladly string along

Chef Wei Xiaobo used to enjoy cooking at home for his friends and family, but after the birth of his son two years ago, he found that their visits grew more seldom.

Wei was encouraged to open a restaurant last year, so that all his friends could gather again to taste the fruits of his culinary skills. Closed due to licensing issues, the restaurant reopened this year in a new location in a hutong east of Beijing's Jingshan Park.

Wei named his restaurant Chef Wei's Noodle House after his signature hot and sour noodles, but he also serves barbecue and seafood.