A Japanese star chef was allegedly killed over a meal of noodles that diners claimed was poorly prepared, reports say.
Miki Nozawa, a 57-year-old Japanese chef working in Germany, died as a result of injuries he purportedly sustained from two disgruntled diners he served at a restaurant on the North Sea island of Sylt, according to the Australian Associated Press. The chef was allegedly attacked by two men who claimed they "didn’t like" the meals he served, the report notes. A dish of fried noodles with beef and vegetables was a point of contention.
Nozawa's unnamed ex-wife told German newspaper Sylter Rundschau that her husband died of "severe brain injuries and internal bleeding" he sustained during a Sunday night altercation.
"My ex-husband was not aggressive, absolutely good-natured man," she said. "He never would have started a fight."
"We have heard that the men wanted to get back their ten euros for the food. We see this as a racist act," she said, claiming that the chef had been called a "chink" while working on the island.
A conflicting report by German tabloid Bild says the two suspects left the restaurant without paying and later ran into the chef as they went into the table dance venue "Z1" and the fight escalated. The suspects are said to have been "intoxicated."
The AAP reports that the two were arrested but then later released due to lack of evidence. They are, however, still being questioned by police.
Nozawa was a celebrity chef who was famous for his Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine, according to Bild. He has served the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev, Denzel Washington and Phil Collins.