Salt Bae - Internet Personality
Age: 42
Country: Turkey Occupations:
Internet Personality
Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, is a Turkish chef, butcher, and restaurateur born on August 9, 1983. He rose to global fame in January 2017 through viral videos showcasing his theatrical meat-preparation technique, particularly his signature move of sprinkling salt over dishes by letting it cascade from his fingertips down his arm to the food, earning him the playful nickname "Salt Bae." This flamboyant style turned him into an internet sensation and sex symbol, inspiring memes, artwork, and tributes worldwide.
Gökçe founded the Nusr-Et chain of upscale steakhouse restaurants, starting in Istanbul and expanding to cities like New York, London, and Dubai. His establishments are known for luxurious, high-priced offerings, including gold-leaf-encrusted steaks that can cost hundreds of dollars, blending fine dining with performance art. While praised for the spectacle—often described as "dinner theater"—critics have noted the food can be overpriced, oversalted, and underwhelming in quality.
Beyond the kitchen, Gökçe has courted controversy, such as serving controversial figures like Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2018 and making unauthorized contact with the FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022, drawing widespread backlash. By 2025, reports have emerged of workplace issues at his restaurants, including allegations of a toxic culture and inappropriate demands toward staff. Despite these, he remains a polarizing figure in culinary pop culture, frequently seen jet-setting, smoking cigars, and rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Diddy.