26 » OpenRoad Driver
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U Turn
CHEF HAMID SALIMIAN
Feature by Sherman Chan
Photos courtesy of Hamid Salimian
»
Akin to a fine-tuned sports
car, Chef Hamid Salimian has
taken a few turns both in his
personal life and his career.
Growing up on a farm
in northern Iran, Chef
Salimian envisioned being a
veterinarian. His family had
moved from Tehran to escape
the ravages of the Iran-Iraq
war.
He had never even considered
a career in the culinary arts,
but his life was always filled
with love, laughter and food.
In the family home guests
were welcomed like family.
Salimian recalls delectable
food prepared by his mother.
She was passionate about
entertaining people where
food was more than just
cooking. It involved the
presentation, textures and
temperature. As for Salimian,
much like the family garden
he helped tend to, the seed was
planted.