Born in 1983 in the small village of Paşalı located in Erzurum Turkey Nusret Gökçe came from modest means. His father was a miner and due to financial hardships Nusret had to leave school at the age of 11. He started working as a butcher’s apprentice in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul .
This early experience not only introduced him to the world of meat but also shaped his strong work ethic and love for food. Despite limited formal education Gökçe sought to master his craft by working in various restaurants around the world including in Argentina and the United States often without pay just to gain hands-on experience .
The Birth of Salt Bae
Salt Bae became a global phenomenon in January 2017 when a video of him preparing and seasoning a steak titled “Ottoman Steak” went viral on Instagram and Twitter. In the video Gökçe wore sunglasses and a tight white T-shirt while slicing steak with theatrical precision and sprinkling salt by letting it fall from his fingertips down his bent elbow onto the meat.
The signature move which came to define his persona earned him the nickname Salt Bae a blend of his unique salting style and internet culture slang. The video amassed millions of views within days and turned him into an internet celebrity overnight .
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Global Expansion The NusrEt Steakhouse Chain
Long before he became an internet icon Gökçe had opened his first restaurant NusrEt Steakhouse in Istanbul in 2010. After the viral fame he rapidly expanded his brand. Today his NusrEt chain has restaurants in numerous cities around the world including
Istanbul Ankara and Bodrum Turkey
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi UAE
- Doha Qatar
- New York Miami Boston Las Vegas and Dallas USA
- London UK
- Mykonos Greece
Riyadh and Jeddah Saudi Arabia
NusrEt steakhouses are known for their extravagant dishes including gold-covered steaks opulent interiors and high-profile clientele. Despite being criticized for their steep prices the restaurants remain popular among celebrities and social media influencers.
Celebrity Clientele and Social Media Fame
Salt Bae has hosted and served a wide array of celebrities and public figures which helped boost his popularity. Notable guests include.
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- David Beckham
- DJ Khaled
- Naomi Campbell
- Lionel Messi
- Neymar Jr
- Cristiano Ronaldo
His social media presence is massive with millions of followers on Instagram who eagerly watch videos of him slicing steaks preparing meat with flair and posing with celebrity guests.