Salt Bae hand-fed a Vietnamese minister US$2,000 gold-covered steak in a viral TikTok video – and local social media users are furious over the splurge

Nov 10 , 2021

A video of Salt Bae feeding gold-covered steak to Vietnamese minister To Lam sparked a social media outcry. Photo: @NorgiePaul/Twitter, Radio Free Asia/Youtube

The video shows Insta-famous chef Nusrest Gokce feeding luxury steak to Vietnam’s minister of public security To Lam at Nusr-Et Steakhouse in London

Netizens were quick to denounce the minister, who was in Britain for the UN COP26 climate summit, for the meal as Vietnam struggles amid the pandemic

Vietnam’s minister of public security To Lam came under fire recently for his hearty and rather expensive meal at Nusr-Et Steakhouse, Nusret Gokce’s London restaurant. You might better know the Turkish chef as the Instagram-famous Salt Bae.

The government official was criticised after a video, showing him being hand-fed gold-covered steak by Salt Bae, went viral on social media. The clip, which has now been removed, first appeared on the Turkish chef’s official TikTok account.

A video of Salt Bae feeding a gold-covered steak to Vietnam’s minister of public security To Lam went viral, sparking a social media outcry. Photo: @nusr_et/Instagram

To’s meal is expected to be priced at around US$1,956 – way above his monthly earnings that range between US$600 to US$800 before any allowances. The minister received flak for his lavish choice after screenshots and copies of the video continued to do the rounds online.

It’s unclear when the video was filmed, but the politician was in Britain for the United Nations COP26 climate summit.

Human rights activist Hoang Dung was one of the first people to share pictures of the security minister eating the gold-encrusted steak on his personal Facebook page. Hoang asked why a work dinner had to be held at such an expensive restaurant.

Vietnam’s minister of public security To Lam was in Britain for the United Nations COP26 climate summit. Photo: @FATCAed/Twitter

Social media quickly condemned the luxury meal. “My tax money has been used for luxury,” said one user, while another added, “Vietnam is still poor, but the minister is so luxurious, the officer is enjoying so much extravagance.” Other comments included: “Millions of people are suffering from Covid. No words,” and “Gobbling steak at a climate conference is the height of revolting indifference.”