The Chicken Connoisseur
Personal information
Born
Elijah Quashie

(1993-05-28) 28 May 1993 (age 30)[1]
Enfield, London, England
Occupations
  • Internet celebrity
  • Fried chicken restaurant critic
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2015–present
GenreFood
Subscribers865,000[2]
Total views105,000,000[2]
100,000 subscribers2016
Last updated: 2 March 2024

Elijah Quashie (born 28 May 1993 in Enfield, London),[3] also known as The Chicken Connoisseur or The CNSR (screen name), is an internet celebrity and fried chicken restaurant critic, known for his viral YouTube video series The Pengest Munch.[4][5][6]

Career

Quashie started his YouTube channel The Pengest Munch in August 2015, inspired by Gregg Wallace of television series MasterChef, produced by film maker Elishama Udorok.[5] Until December 2016, Quashie's videos had around 700 views each, with a total of 150 subscribers.[5] The videos involve Quashie visiting, critiquing and rating chicken shops around London.[7]

The Pengest Munch went viral on 9 December, with coverage from The Huffington Post,[6] The Daily Telegraph[8] and BuzzFeed[7] and support from John Boyega and Graham Linehan.[8] Metro cited "stunning insight, humour and style" as the reasons behind his success.[9] Another focus of the coverage has been the use of slang in the videos;[6][8] The Huffington Post has been criticised for suggesting that in these videos "the slang of working class black kids is beyond normal comprehension".[10] He appeared on ITV London on 13 December,[11] and released a new episode to YouTube on 16 December.[12]

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.[13] The programme started in August 2018[14] and featured four episodes.[15]

In January 2021, Quashie renamed his channel to The CNSR.[16]

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.[17]

Personal life

Quashie lives in Tottenham in North London.[4] Following his rise to fame, many people speculated about his age due to his youthful appearance. Quashie confirmed his age as 23 (as of December 2016) in a tweet he swiftly deleted. This is corroborated by a number of government records stating his date of birth as May 1993.[18] Quashie has also said that he is not interested in discussing his age.[19] Quashie is also an Arsenal fan, stating it in his YouTube videos and interviews since his rise to prominence.[20][non-primary source needed] Quashie is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[21]

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".[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Elijah QUASHIE - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Companies House, Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "About The CNSR". YouTube.
  3. ^ Sampson, Issy (4 August 2018). "Chicken Connoisseur Elijah Quashie: 'Deep down, vegans want to be us!'". The Guardian.
  4. ^ a b "YouTube star behind chicken shop reviews: My head is still spinning". Evening Standard. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c "Boy Reviewing London's Chicken Shops Goes Viral". HuffPost. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Everyone Loves The Guy On YouTube Going Around London Reviewing Chicken Shops". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "These brilliant videos about London's takeaway chicken shops are a YouTube hit". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  9. ^ "The 'Chicken Connoisseur' has just become the best food critic in London". Metro. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  10. ^ "When It Comes To Diversity, Black English Language Is Just As Important As Diversity In Boardrooms". The Debrief. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ^ "The guy who reviews London chicken shops made a glorious TV appearance". Yahoo! Finance. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. ^ "The Chicken Connoisseur Is Back With A Brand New Ep Of The Pengest Munch – WATCH". Capital XTRA. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  13. ^ Ruddick, Graham (5 October 2017). "Chicken Connoisseur Elijah Quashie gets his own Channel 4 show". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  14. ^ Sampson, Issy (4 August 2018). "YouTube star the Chicken Connoisseur: 'Deep down, vegans want to be us'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Peng Life - All 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  16. ^ Hansen, James (4 January 2021). "London's 'Chicken Connoisseur' Is Broadening His Critical Remit". Eater London. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "You Won't Believe How Old YouTube's 'Chicken Connoisseur' Really Is..." Capital XTRA. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Chicken Connoisseur on Twitter: "@HeavyHeavyd @professorgreen @OfficialChip @IAMFRIMPONG26 Arsenal." / Twitter". Retrieved 30 August 2020 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Wagner, Danielle B. (10 October 2017). "LDS YouTube Sensation Who Has Over 33 Million Views for Reviewing Chicken Is Getting His Own TV Show". LDSLiving. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  22. ^ Gillett, Francesca (17 May 2017). "London's Chicken Connoisseur backs Jeremy Corbyn after string of grime stars endorse Labour leader". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
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