An embattled Sydney restaurant owner continues to contact customers for reservations, despite resigning as manager following his arrest for displaying a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine protest.
Al Yazbek continues to hold a 50 per cent stake in the Nomad restaurant group and has been actively contacting customers to encourage Christmas bookings, despite being removed from day-to-day management.
Customers have revealed to the Daily Telegraph that Yazbek has been messaging them and urging them to confirm Christmas bookings at Nomad in Sydney and Melbourne, along with Victorian restaurants Reine & La Rue.
He sparked national outrage last month after holding a sign made to look like the Israeli flag, but with a swastika, the Star of David in the middle and the words “Stop Nazi Israel.”
He was arrested following the protest march in Sydney on October 6 that marked one year since the start of the war in Gaza and was later charged with displaying a Nazi symbol and pleaded guilty.
Yazbek is no longer secretary director of the company Edition Hospitality, which was renamed Nomad Group.
Mr Yazbek’s wife, Rebecca, was recently appointed sole director of Edition Hospitality in a damage control move in the wake of the saga.
It appears that he is a silent partner in the company and has not cut ties.
Disgraced restaurateur Al Yazbek has actively contacted customers to encourage Christmas bookings, despite being removed from day-to-day management. Mr Yazbek is pictured with his wife Rebecca.
Mr Yazbek (pictured holding a sign) was arrested on October 6 for displaying a Nazi symbol at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney. He will be sentenced on December 10
Ronn Bechler, former Nomad patron and president of the Israel Youth Foundation, told the Daily Telegraph that the restructuring of the hospitality group was “lipstick on a pig”.
“Everyone who eats at or contracts with Reine & La Rue in Melbourne and the Nomad restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney are funding the Yazbeks.”
“Regardless of the name of the parent company or who is on its board of directors,” Mr. Bechler said.
After Yazbek displayed the Nazi symbol at the October protest, Reine & La Rue’s co-chef, Israeli-born Jew Rotem Papo, resigned.
Yazbek was allegedly involved in another controversy involving Jewish people.
The Australian reported earlier this month that Yazbek allegedly called his Jewish owners ‘Shylock & Shylock.’
The publication reported that Yazbek also described one of the owner’s employees as “the little bald Jew who works for you.”
Customers revealed Yazbek has been sending them messages urging them to confirm Christmas bookings at Nomad in Sydney and Melbourne and Reine & La Rue in Melbourne. Nomad Sydney pictured
The comments were allegedly made in emails to Robert and Geula Burke, owners of the five-storey building in Surry Hills that houses the Nomad restaurant.
Yazbek previously acknowledged that her husband behaved in a way that offended many people.
“We deeply regret the impact his actions have had on the community and for that we sincerely apologize,” he said.
“As his wife and business partner, I was furious at their actions and heartbroken at the damage they caused.”
“I completely understand the disappointment and frustration felt by those affected and I am committed to doing everything possible to restore their confidence.”
The couple built their high-class restaurant group over the last decade with restaurants Nomad Sydney and Nomad Melbourne, as well as Reine & La Rue.
In a statement earlier this month, Ms Yazbek spoke of the restructuring of the hotel group.
“Nomad Group is already a successful company; I am confident that this new structure will contribute to our future success.”
“This is the right time to move into a new phase for my business,” he said.
Famed accountant Anthony Bell, founder and chief executive of Bell Partners, has been appointed business adviser to the restaurant group.
Last month, Yazbek pleaded guilty to displaying a Nazi symbol.
He will be sentenced on December 10.