What is the real name of the chef known as Salt Bae?

The real name of the chef known as Salt Bae is Nusret Gökçe.

Gökçe is a Turkish butcher, chef, and restaurateur who became internationally famous for his theatrical way of slicing meat and sprinkling salt. In January 2017, a video of him preparing and seasoning a steak went viral, turning his distinctive wrist-flicking technique into an internet meme and earning him the nickname Salt Bae.

He is also the founder of Nusr-Et, a luxury steakhouse chain. The brand name combines a version of his first name, Nusret, with “et,” the Turkish word for meat. Nusr-Et expanded from Turkey into several international markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

People sometimes treat “Salt Bae” as the chef’s formal professional name, but it is an internet nickname. Nusret Gökçe is his birth name and the name associated with his restaurants and public career.