Masterchef judges hail Middlesbrough delicacy 'chicken parmo' as 'the next big thing'

It's a delicacy on Teesside

A MasterChef contestant made chicken parmo for a panel of judges - and they hailed it as “the next big thing.”

We’re used to seeing MasterChef hopefuls give classic recipes a twist, but viewers were left amazed when cook Anthony O’Shaughnessy decided to serve up a Teesside classic on Thursday’s episode.

Taking a risk, O’Shaughnessy presented the judges – including chef Thomasina Miers and former winner Steven Wallis – with a chicken parmo, which for the uninitiated is a deep fried breaded chicken cutlet smothered in melted cheese.

In true MasterChef style, the cook whipped up a gourmet-style version of the Middlesbrough delicacy, serving it with spicy beetroot ketchup and pickled cabbage.

“Many people in the North-East and on Teesside and will be thinking 'Oh God, he's made a chicken parmo on Masterchef', it's bit risky,” O’Shaughnessy said on the show.

”Making it glamorous, that's going to be a bit of a challenge, but really it's all about the flavour and that's what I want to get across."

After trying the contestant’s dish, the judges – who had seemingly never heard of chicken parmo before - were so impressed that Miers described it as “British street food” while Wallis said it could be “the next big thing.”

“This is the most original plate of food we have had the whole day,” Miers declared.

“Who knows, this could be the next big thing. Hashtag chicken parmo.”

Unsurprisingly viewers were left astonished that the classic dish made an appearance on the show with many mocking the judges for not knowing what it was.

“Highlight of my day is hearing #chickenparmo on master chef,” one person tweeted.

Another added: “The next big thing? Come off it you shandy drinking southerner - they’ve been massive up here for years.”

To celebrate getting through to the quarter-finals, O’Shaughnessy shared a photo of himself online tucking into a ‘proper’ chicken parmo while he watched the show and admitted that #chickenparmo trending on Twitter was “the proudest moment” of his life.