The Chicken Connoisseur
Internet personality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elijah Quashie (born 1993),[1] 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.[2][3][4]
- Internet celebrity
- Fried chicken restaurant critic
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.[3] Until December 2016, Quashie's videos had around 700 views each, with a total of 150 subscribers.[3] The videos involve Quashie visiting, critiquing and rating chicken shops around London.[5]
The Pengest Munch went viral on 9 December, with coverage from The Huffington Post,[4] The Daily Telegraph[6] and BuzzFeed[5] and support from John Boyega and Graham Linehan.[6] Metro cited "stunning insight, humour and style" as the reasons behind his success.[7] Another focus of the coverage has been the use of slang in the videos;[4][6] The Huffington Post has been criticised for suggesting that in these videos "the slang of working class black kids is beyond normal comprehension".[8] He appeared on ITV London on 13 December,[9] and released a new episode to YouTube on 16 December.[10]
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.[11] The programme started in August 2018[12] and featured four episodes.[13]
In January 2021, Quashie renamed his channel to The CNSR.[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 murder of a 22-year-old disabled man.[15]
Personal life
Quashie lives in Tottenham in North London.[2] Following his rise to fame, many people speculated about his age due to his youthful appearance, some assuming him to be a decade younger.[16] Quashie has also said that he is not interested in discussing his age.[17] Quashie is also a renowned Arsenal fan, stating it in his YouTube videos and interviews since his rise to prominence.[18] Quashie is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[19]
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".[20]