Abu Dhabi - It's not everyday when a chef in UAE gets to meet a Crown Prince.
By Yousuf Saifuddin Kapadia
Published: Tue 31 Jan 2017, 2:30 PM
Last updated: Wed 2 Aug 2017, 6:01 PM
It was only a matter of time when word of Dubai's new internet star - chef 'Salt Bae' got to UAE's royalty, and visited one of his restaurants in the UAE.
Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe aka 'Salt Bae' recently met with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, a meeting he will never forget for the rest of his life.
The chef's fame has spread far and wide, with celebrities flying in from all over the world to dine at one of his eateries in Turkey, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The butcher and chef has become the year's first internet sensation - for his finesse and flair in chopping meat and sprinkling salt.
The internet seems to be losing its calm over him (and his sensual videos!).
Sheikh Mohamed recently arrived from his historic trip to India, where he was invited as chief guest for the 68th Republic Day parade.
He posted a montage clip of some special moments from his trip:
Even a Bollywood macho man could not resist 'Sath Bae's' charm and flew down to Dubai to eat at his restaurant and meet him - Sanjay Dutt.
According to the superstar's recent Instagram posts, he visited Nusret's Steak House in Dubai's Four Seasons Resort at Jumeirah Beach, and had a 'fan moment' with the talented chef:
Here's Sanjay 'baba' - as he is fondly called by film fraternity and fans - enjoying a steak at Nusret's eatery in Dubai.
It's noteworthy that the star had discovered the restaurant in Dubai nearly seven weeks back in 2016 - before Nusret went viral:
Earlier in January, one of his Instagram videos went viral and the father of nine became an internet star overnight, spawning hundreds of #SaltBae memes and even a line of merchandise, including mugs and t-shirts.
Even superstar singer Rihanna couldn't resist getting a 'Salt Bae' t-shirt:
A photograph of him sprinkling salt on a piece of meat has even been tweeted by American singer Bruno Mars earning him the nickname 'Salt Bae'.
Nusret's Instragram following has grown from over a million followers to 2.9 million within weeks.
Here's the chef with tennis great Roger Federer:
His videos of him chopping up steaks and ending it with his trademark 'salt sprinkle' have been garnering views in the millions, with his latest video having been watched more than 4 million times in two days!
Nusret is an owner of a small steak-house chain in Turkey. Nusret not only cooks and sells his original meat, but also carves carcasses with his own hands operating huge knives masterly, in a very elegant manner.
The chef is a true rags to riches story - according to local media reports - leaving school, because his family did not have money to pay for his education, and becoming an assistant of a butcher.
He now owns restaurants in Turkey, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and has over 400 people working for him.
Here is the handsome chef with his nine children:
His influence can even be felt in the sporting world, where players are celebrating victories with Nusret's trademark 'salt sprinkle' action:
yousufk@khaleejtimes.com
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