Social media phenomenon ‘Salt Bae’ Nusret Gökçe vows to be world’s greatest butcher

ISTANBUL –Ayşe Arman

The co-partner of the global Nusr-et chain of grill houses, Nusret Gökçe, who recently became a social media phenomenon for his meat-cutting and salt-drizzling skills, has vowed to become the “world’s greatest butcher.”

Gökçe spoke to Hürriyet about the viral video, which has been watched by at least seven million people, in which he cuts and salts meat with a huge butcher’s knife.  

“Actually that move at the end [salting] came automatically. I did not do that to show off. It is just my signature. You can think of it a kind of final touch for a painting. It was a final touch to the meat; I was blessing the meat,” he added.

Gökçe said Nusr-et would be opening branches in New York and London in the next few months, adding that success was possible by “telling stories and drawing people’s attention.” 

He said he did not know any foreign languages, but he “could communicate with people through meat.”     

“People see me as uncouth. I am the son of a mine worker. My father and mother do not know literacy. I cannot go to school due to financial difficulties. I started to working at a butcher as an apprentice when I was 14. Meat has become a passion for me,” he added.

Gökçe also stated that he did not work with any PR team or company, adding that his photographs and videos were shot by waiters working at his restaurants.