Celebrity chef Opel Khan breaks silence over savage gossip about his marriage – after Bentley-driving restaurateur shut down his empire amid shocking claims

EXCLUSIVE

Celebrity chef Opel Khan has broken his silence after his restaurant empire closed as debt collectors closed in and he was accused of wage theft following a rumored split with his wife.

Khan recently closed his Sydney restaurants, including French-themed Metisse and pasta restaurant Acqua E Farina in Potts Point, as well as his Bistronomie restaurant in Surry Hills.

He confirmed the closures last year, stressing that rising wages and rising food costs mean “you just can’t make money anymore” in Sydney’s hospitality industry.

But it has now been revealed that a series of debt collectors have been trying to track him down at previous addresses listed in company files.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has also taken legal action against Khan and his company over allegations of wage theft involving some of his restaurant staff.

Adding to his turmoil at work, a family member claimed to Daily Mail Australia that he and his wife Jules split “some time ago” and had not spoken in more than a year.

However, this week the chef and his wife made a video call to Daily Mail Australia and insisted the couple are still ‘very much together’.

But he admitted his marriage was rocked by claims of an affair after a mystery woman contacted Ms Khan claiming she was his secret lover.

“A woman contacted my wife claiming to be my mistress,” he admitted.

‘I was having dinner with five or six women and a photo was sent to my wife insinuating things.

‘Now people are making up all kinds of rumors that a baby is on the way. None of this is true.’

He added: “People in the Bengali community are against me.”

There is no suggestion that there is any truth to the claims against Khan.

The row comes after Khan closed his Opel Group hospitality website in October and told Good Food he was withdrawing from the restaurant sector due to rising food costs.

“Food costs have increased by 40 percent, we cannot increase the price we charge our customers. Wages have risen, interest rates have risen [are up]’ he said at the time.

In May, the chef replaced his upmarket Khanaa restaurant in Surry Hills with Bistronomie, a venue he marketed as an affordable eatery for the tough times.

But the doors to the entire empire are now closed.

Khan also scrapped plans to open a second Bistronomie outpost in the ill-fated Potts Point location that previously housed the former Gastro Park and Antipodean restaurants.

“A friend with a lot of locations says you just can’t make any money right now,” he said as he announced the closures.

“I’m going to take a break, but I live and breathe food and wine, so don’t count me out if I do another restaurant.”

The Opel Group website, which previously showed Khan’s various restaurants in the port city, now only gives an error message.

He has kept a low profile since his restaurant closed.

His social media accounts have gone silent in the wake of the unrest, with the last post on his Instagram account – which has three million followers – dating back to November.

It showed the chef having brunch, along with images of a designer watch and Louis Vuitton boots.

An Instagram video from 15 weeks ago shows Khan’s hand on his flashy Bentley steering wheel, with “Opel’s iPhone” on the dashboard and a chunky $1,000 ruthenium Fendi bracelet.

He is also said to have been a regular at Sydney’s Star Casino, and was tagged and pictured on social media at a barbershop in Westfield Miranda, in Sydney’s south, on Christmas Eve.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has now taken legal action in the Federal Court against Khan and his Metisse Bar and Restaurant Group for allegedly underpaying a chef’s minimum wage, overtime and fines for evening and weekend work.

The chef is also said to have been denied personal leave, notice pay and annual leave when his job was cut.

A drinks regulator also lost out on his right to paid annual leave, the ombudsman claimed, and the company failed to calculate and pay back workers.

Mr Khan strongly denied the claims, saying he had paid back both employees and provided receipts for bank transfers. The case is currently still in court.

Daily Mail Australia can now reveal he is also being hounded over other alleged outstanding debts.

A current tenant of a former rental property where Khan and his family once lived has revealed how unpaid bills have filled his mailbox since he moved in.

He said debt collectors have been consistently knocking on his doorstep over the past 10 months looking for Khan after he moved into the Beecroft house in Sydney’s north.

“A lot of different people and businesses have been here looking for him, about six since February,” the tenant said.

“A lot of different people from different companies want to know where he is.”