Alan Yazbek: Nomad restaurateur in hot water with Jewish landlords over alleged swastika display
Trouble is mounting for Sydney restaurateur Alan Yazbek after he was charged with knowingly displaying a nazi-style swastika on a sign at a pro-Palestine rally at the weekend.
Mr Yazbek, who owns the famed Surry Hills eatery Nomad, was charged but granted bail on Sunday after he allegedly held a sign that read “Stop Nazi Israel”. The sign replicated the Israeli flag but superimposed a swastika in the place of the Star of David.
Several patrons reportedly rushed to cancel bookings at Mr Yazbek’s restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne as news of the charges spread through the Jewish community.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.And now, reports have emerged that the landlords of Mr Yazbek’s Nomad restaurant are Jewish and are not happy with their tenant’s alleged conduct.
The Australian reports that the 200-seat Nomad eatery is housed in a building owned by prominent Sydney real estate investors Robert and Guela Burke through their company Hanave Pty Ltd.
Mrs Burke is originally from Israel and volunteers at an unnamed Jewish school in Sydney. Sources in the Jewish community told The Australian the couple were displeased with Mr Yazbek’s alleged actions.
Mr Yazbek and his wife Rebecca, an interior architect, have run the popular Nomad restaurant in Surry Hills since 2013. The food is inspired by their travels through Spain, Morocco and the Middle East.
They also own the award-winning French-inspired restaurant Reine & La Rue in Melbourne.
However, since charges were levelled against Mr Yazbek, mass cancellations have been reported at Nomad in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Reine & La Rue. Social media pages of the couple’s eateries have been swamped with threats of a boycott.
According to The Australian, at least five of Melbourne’s most well-known corporations have cancelled events at Reine & La Rue, and French champagne house G.H. Mumm has confirmed it is “reviewing its partnership” with the restaurant as the caterer in the famous Birdcage marquee at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Herald Sun reports at least one of Nomad’s senior chefs resigned “effective immediately” following Mr Yazbek’s charges.
In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Yazbek said: “So many of us have family in the region. Every loss of life is a tragedy. We’re in mourning.”
He is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on October 24.
