A Vietnamese minister has stoked ire after being captured on Salt Bae’s social media being fed a slice of £1,450 gold-plated steak - worth more than the annual salary of many people in his home country.
Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security, To Lam, fresh from laying flowers at the “father of communism” Karl Marx’s grave in Highgate Cemetery, decided to unwind at Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et restaurant in Knightsbridge.
To Lam, who had led a delegation at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, can be seen craning his neck as the social media sensation lowers a slice of the gold leaf steak into his mouth with a large knife.
The video appeared on the TikTok account of Salt Bae but was quickly deleted after stoking controversy in Vietnam.
Bộ trưởng Bộ Công an Việt Nam Tô Lâm được Salt Bae chế biến và đút cho ăn món bò dát vàng trị giá lên đến 45 triệu đồng/phần trong một nhà hàng của ông này ở Luân Đôn. Cùng bàn với ông Tô Lâm là Chánh văn phòng Bộ Công an Tô Ân Xô. pic.twitter.com/hGZZqGbJZr
— Duy Bình (@DuyBnh61157516) November 5, 2021
Radio Free Asia quoted one person as saying: “My tax money has been used for luxury.”
And Facebook user Mung Tin Ngo wrote: “Vietnam is still poor but the minister is so luxurious, the officer is enjoying so much extravagance.”
The social media misstep was one of Salt Bae’s last actions in the capital after he announced he will be leaving London for pastures new, to open his latest restaurant.
The much-talked about foodie is heading to Saudi Arabia to open his 28th restaurant.
