The Chicken Connoisseur
The Chicken Connoisseur | |||||||
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Quashies' channel logo | |||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born | Elijah Quashie 1993 (age 30–31)[1] | ||||||
Occupations |
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Website | YouTube channel | ||||||
YouTube information | |||||||
Years active | 2015–present | ||||||
Genre | Food | ||||||
Subscribers | 752,000 (11 June 2020) | ||||||
Total views | 64,068,076 (11 June 2020) | ||||||
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Last updated: 23 November 2018 |
Elijah Quashie (born 1993 in Enfield, London),[2] also known as The Chicken Connoisseur, is an internet celebrity and fried chicken restaurant critic known for his viral YouTube video series The Pengest Munch.[3][4][5]
Career
Quashie started his YouTube channel The Pengest Munch in August 2015, inspired by Gregg Wallace of television series MasterChef and produced by film maker Elishama Udorok.[4] Until December 2016, his videos had around 700 views each, with a total of 150 subscribers.[4] The videos involve Quashie visiting, critiquing and rating chicken shops around London.[6]
The Pengest Munch went viral on 9 December, with coverage from The Huffington Post,[5] The Daily Telegraph[7] and BuzzFeed[6] and support from John Boyega and Graham Linehan.[7] Metro cited "stunning insight, humour and style" as the reasons behind his success.[8] Another focus of the coverage has been the use of slang in the videos;[5][7] this has been criticised for suggesting "the slang of working class black kids is beyond normal comprehension", notwithstanding the fact that such a claim is by no means subjectively invalid.[9] He appeared on ITV London on 13 December,[10] and released a new episode to YouTube on 16 December.[11]
In December 2016, he established Chicken Connoisseur Ltd[1] and in April 2017 it was announced that he would be writing a book entitled The Pengest Munch: In Search of the Nation's 50 Favourite Chicken Establishments, published by Blink Publishing.
It was announced in October 2017 that Quashie would star in a new Channel 4 television show entitled 'The Peng Life'.[12] The programme started in August 2018[13] and featured 4 episodes.[14]
Controversy
In January 2017, Quashie came under criticism after he featured Taylor Harris (stage name 'Bonkaz') rapping in one of his YouTube videos. Harris was previously convicted of groping a 13-year-old girl in 2010. Harris was also jailed for three years in 2011 for his part in a kidnapping and torture of a 22-year-old disabled man.[15]
Personal life
Quashie lives in Tottenham in North London.[3] Following his rise to fame, many people speculated about his age as he looks so young, about 16-17 years old. Quashie confirmed to be 23 (as of December 2016) in a tweet he swiftly deleted. This is confirmed by a number of government records stating his date of birth as May 1993.[16] Quashie has also said that he has "no appetite for discussing his age".[17] Quashie is also a renowned Arsenal fan, stating it in his youtube videos and interviews since his rise to prominence. Quashie is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In May 2017, Quashie endorsed Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election. During an interview with The Fader he said: "he's one of the few people who make sense".[18]
References
- ^ a b "Elijah QUASHIE - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ Sampson, Issy (4 August 2018). "Chicken Connoisseur Elijah Quashie: 'Deep down, vegans want to be us!'". the Guardian.
- ^ a b "YouTube star behind chicken shop reviews: My head is still spinning". Evening Standard. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ a b c Usborne, Simon (16 December 2016). "The Chicken Connoisseur on his new Pengest Munch: 'I owe it to the bald one on MasterChef'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "Boy Reviewing London's Chicken Shops Goes Viral". The Huffington Post. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Everyone Loves The Guy On YouTube Going Around London Reviewing Chicken Shops". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ a b c "These brilliant videos about London's takeaway chicken shops are a YouTube hit". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "The 'Chicken Connoisseur' has just become the best food critic in London". Metro. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "When It Comes To Diversity, Black English Language Is Just As Important As Diversity In Boardrooms". The Debrief. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "The guy who reviews London chicken shops made a glorious TV appearance". Yahoo! Finance. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "The Chicken Connoisseur Is Back With A Brand New Ep Of The Pengest Munch – WATCH". Capital XTRA. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "Chicken Connoisseur Elijah Quashie gets his own Channel 4 show". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ Sampson, Issy (4 August 2018). "YouTube star the Chicken Connoisseur: 'Deep down, vegans want to be us'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ "Peng Life - All 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Dempsey, Joe (11 January 2017). "'Chicken Connoisseur' Youtube star comes under fire for starring alongside convicted sex offender in latest 'Pengest Munch' video in Thornton Heath". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "You Won't Believe How Old YouTube's 'Chicken Connoisseur' Really Is..." Capital XTRA. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ^ Usborne, Simon (16 December 2016). "The Chicken Connoisseur on his new Pengest Munch: 'I owe it to the bald one on MasterChef'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ^ Gillett, Francesca (17 May 2017). "London's Chicken Connoisseur backs Jeremy Corbyn after string of grime stars endorse Labour leader". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 11 June 2017.