Robert De Niro Caught Selling Endangered Fish in His Restaurants
This past weekend, undercover operatives from Greenpeace tested the DNA of fish served in several London-based restaurants that are part of a chain known as Nobu. The restaurants are partially owned by actor Robert De Niro. The tested fish were discovered to be endangered bluefin tuna. In an incredibly stupid response, Nobu’s principal manager has decided to label the endangered fish with an asterisk on the restaurants’ menu, rather than stopping to serve it.
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Do I think this response will ultimately be acceptable to the world community? Absolutely not. If De Niro is as good at managing his restaurants as he is his acting career, then the appropriate action for this embarrassing incident should be a no-brainer. But instead, De Niro’s partner has shot them in the foot.
According to the Telegraph, Richie Notar, the chain’s manager has said that an asterisk will now be put on the menu to aware customers of the fish’s status. They add the following: “Mr. Notar said he would like to take bluefin off the menu altogether, but the move was being resisted by the chain’s Japanese chefs who serve it in sushi and sashimi. In Japan, bluefin is considered the most delicious of all tuna species.”
I guess you have about the same size backbone as the fish you are serving, Mr. Notar.
In fairness to Notar, it is not illegal to sell bluefin tuna. The Telegraph notes on the other hand that “scientists have warned that fishing for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic is taking place at levels far higher than stocks can stand. A crisis meeting to discuss a possible ban on fishing takes place in November.”
My guess is that De Niro’s restaurant chain will suffer a serious decline in business because of Greenpeace’s sting operation. Whether or not the international community is as outraged as I am remains to be seen. Hopefully De Niro will come forward and do the right thing.
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Photo Credit: Siebbi on Flickr under a Creative Commons license
I think they should ban fishing for it - what good will an asterisk do? Not to sound too derogatory to the type of people who can afford to eat at Nobu but I would have thought that it’s rarity would make it even more desirable, pah
Photoshopped! Clearly…
Note subtile color differences and shadows. Note also shadows that don’t match the lighting. Nice try.
It’s fish it was meant to be eaten what’s the big deal? If it were any other animal in danger of extinction I would say something but this is silly. Of course I wouldn’t have put it on the menu as tuna who cares if it’s blue fin or not? Believe the flavor is practically identical. The problem is that nowadays people can’t leave celebrities in peace for at least 5 minutes and there is ALWAYS something that they will be guilty of. I mean really GET A LIFE!!
Ahh, he’s got money, he’ll get away with it. Its all about who you know and how much cash you have on hand.
http://www.anonymize.us.tc
blah blah blah “green peace” blah blah blah… WAIT!?!?! You ate flipper
from the article: “I guess you have about the same size backbone as the fish you are serving, Mr. Notar.”
have you ever seen a tuna? Mr. Notar must have a HUGE backbone.
I think adding an asterisk will only make you want to eat it more. Especially since bluefin tuna is so freaking delicious.
“My guess is that De Niro’s restaurant chain will suffer a serious decline in business because of Greenpeace’s sting operation.”
You seem to have an over inflated view of Greenpeace’s relevance. This got some views on Digg, but will be forgotten by the “world community” this time tomorrow.
I doubt it.
Is it illegal?
no, fuck you then.