An iconic chef, charges of abuse

Noma's L.A. pop-up will open despite protest

- By Stephanie Breijo and Suhauna Hussain

ROBERT GAUTHIER Los Angeles Times PARAMOUR Estate in Silver Lake is the site of the pop-up opening Wednesday.

Resurfaced allegations of abuse and an expected protest won't stop Noma's sold-out Los Angeles popup, which is set to begin on Wednesday evening.

A spokesperson for the world-famous Copenhagen restaurant told The Times on Monday that plans for Noma's 16week appearance in Silver Lake, with seats priced at $1,500 per guest, will continue as scheduled.

The popup, the allegations and a public apology by the restaurant's celebrity chef and co-founder René Redzepi are dividing the restaurant industry and renewing discussions of systemic imbalance and fair compensation.

A former Noma employee has for weeks posted a series of anonymous messages to Instagram from other workers and interns recounting physical, verbal and emotional abuse sustained in years prior. These accounts were compiled and posted by Jason Ignacio White, who previously helmed Noma's fermentation lab. White also posts about his own mental health struggles during his years at the Copenhagen restaurant.

A New York Times article on Saturday reported accounts of abuse compiled from interviews with 35 former Noma staff members, including instances of humiliation, physical violence and intimidation. According to the New York Times, these incidents occurred between 2009 and 2017.

Redzepi could not be reached for comment, but on Saturday he posted an apology to those he hurt, and underscored that Noma has rectified practices with new initiatives, such as paying interns.

THIBAULT SAVARY AFP/Getty Images CHEF René Redzepi, accused of mistreating workers at his high-end restaurant in the past, has apologized.