FIRST there came the dearth of US tourists in the wake of 9/11, then the York floods, then a fire. Then the economic downturn came to test Iqbal Chowdhury.

But somehow Iqbal tends not just to survive, but thrive.

Bengal Brasserie, which he helped to launch in Goodramgate, York, in 1996, is now a successful chain with sought-after restaurants in Poppleton and Leeds, employing 28 people and yielding nearly £500,000 in turnover.

Not even the fire which swept through his Poppleton restaurant could bring him to ruin.

The arsonist who torched the place in the dead of night in May 2008 has never been caught, but Iqbal was determined that it would be resurrected at a cost of £125,000, as a building even more stylish and welcoming than before – and he succeeded.

And all through these disasters, the quality of his restaurants kept shining through.

The Goodramgate outlet earned the title Best Restaurant in York from The Press in 2005.

His group has been given accolades for its authentic Bangladeshi food, both in the country of his birth and by the London-based Curry Life Magazine where his main man in the kitchen, Mohan Miah, won the Northern Regional Chef Of The Year.

Mohan also went on to win the 2007 Fusion Food Festival competition at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

And Iqbal is still celebrating the fact that in 2005 and last year his Bengal Brasserie Group got into Spice Magazine’s UK Northern top ten. Iqbal recognises that these are the toughest years he has experienced in the UK economy. Like all restaurants, his are being squeezed by higher food prices which he dare not pass on to his many customers who are also coping through hard times.

But everything is relative. He said: “I have seen the misery caused by the floods in Bangladesh and everything pales by comparison.”

For that reason he is an ardent fundraiser with his group contributing about £3,000 to help those in need in his homeland.

But over the past 15 years Iqbal has also raised a total of £18,000 for various other charities, including British Heart Foundation, York Age Concern, York Hospital’s children’s high dependency ward, St Leonard’s Hospice, Thailand tsunami victims, Oxfam, Save the Children and various mayoral causes.

Married to Mumina, he has a daughter Fariha, 14, and a son, Abid,11.

He said: “Balancing my family life with a business which goes on way into the night is a difficult process.

“But I manage because I revel in managing difficulties.”

Which job, other than your own, would you like to have and why?
Public relations officer. I love meeting interesting people and creating links between businesses and people.

Greatest achievement?
Raising funds which I hope have helped hundreds if not thousands of people in need.

Biggest mistake?
Not installing the same level of security system at Poppleton which we have today.

What makes you most angry?
When people say one thing and do another. I abhor liars.

What do you need to make life complete?
Those rare and wonderful moments when I get together with family and friends and relax.

Why do you make a difference?
Because I make a lot of hungry people happy and enjoy it when my customers make my culture their own.

Your epitaph
Okay, I didn’t succeed, but now I’d like to try, try and try again!