This week's tablehopper: hobnobbing. (free)

"I know most of us have been eating popcorn 🍿 while scrolling through all the think pieces coming out about the hideous allegations of the physical and mental abuse by chef René Redzepi of Noma of his staff for years (and I know I'm not the only one looking to see which chefs are leaving heart emoji on his half-assed apology)."

"For the past month, I've been reading the numerous testimonies from former employees shared in posts by Noma's former fermentation lab head, Jason Ignacio White, on his Instagram account (now viewable on a storytelling site), wondering when The New York Times was going to report on it. Sure enough, Julia Moskin, who has been reporting on Noma for years, dropped her bombshell piece this past weekend, after interviewing more than 35 former Noma employees."

"Noma is launching their money-grabbing (reservations were $1,500 per person), four-month residency in Los Angeles today, and with sponsors pulling out (AmEx, Blackbird), and diners canceling reservations, it will be interesting (to say the least) to watch how this continues to unfold/implode"

René Redzepi, chef of the acclaimed restaurant Noma, faces significant allegations of physical and mental abuse toward his staff spanning years. Former employees, including Noma's former fermentation lab head Jason Ignacio White, shared testimonies on social media documenting the misconduct. The New York Times published a major investigative piece by Julia Moskin, who interviewed over 35 former Noma employees, bringing widespread attention to the allegations. The scandal emerges as Noma launches a four-month residency in Los Angeles with $1,500 per person reservations. Major sponsors including American Express and Blackbird have withdrawn support, and numerous diners have canceled reservations, creating significant uncertainty about the residency's viability.

Read at tablehopper