By Hans Ebert
They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek him everywhere. They’re all seeking that darned elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. Well, he’s no Scarlet Pimpernel, but Harlan Goldstein, that larger-than-life character and so-called “celebrity chef” through years of shameless self-promotion, has been dogged by controversy and not exactly positive publicity for years going all the way back to his tenure with the Aberdeen Marina Club- and unceremonious exit.
Longtime Hong Kong Belongers still remember what made that adventure sink like the Titanic. But, to his credit, Goldstein can read the tea leaves and is a silver-tongued devil when it comes to selling himself to investors and convincing them to part with their money. He is looked up to with admiration by those simpletons in the local food and beverage industry soldiering on for his incredible strike rate, his ability to not just survive, but how he manages to make comeback after comeback despite his financial backers- and there’s been quite a list- backing out of projects, or else backing away from what could be termed “Fools Gold”. And each time, Harlan Goldstein walks, he walks away a very wealthy man. For his ability to do this, those with tiny restaurants and trying to make ends meet, he is a giant amongst men. It’s like admiring Donald Trump for not paying taxes and making comeback after comeback despite businesses going bankrupt. The tweets below, tell the tale of Harlan Goldstein’s latest misadventure.
'Celebrity chef' Harlan Goldstein pulls out of quadruple restaurant venture in Central https://t.co/5d7EVbu5Xd — Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) September 30, 2016
Harlan Goldstein makes sudden exit from another dining venture https://t.co/5PrTnaloSM via @SCMP_News — Bernice Chan (@beijingcalling) September 30, 2016
His association with all of the above might have gone kaput, but word is that he was paid millions to leave- apparently for “health reasons”. And from photos we have been shown and voice messages he has sent to his local fan club comprising people who, whether true or false, say they have been used and discarded by their “bro”, Harlan Goldstein is currently living la vida loca in Las Vegas, he has found yet another investor, and will soon be back talking it up like any sideshow barker. He left his latest venture for “health reasons”? Really, bro?
Can anyone blame this king of self promotion if there are those who wish to throw money his way in the name of that uniquely Hong Kong thing known as Face? Or how there’s a sucker born every minute to take for a ride? These are business marriages doomed to fail, but too many believing that this time things will be different and that the honeymoon period will last. It never does. Just ask Harlan Goldstein, bro.
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