(Image: Kalani Ghost Hunter / Google Maps)
A viral American TikToker has praised a Saltburn restaurant’s Crab Rangoon parmo after saying he had never seen one in Britain.
Kalani Smith, known online as Kalani Ghost Hunter, visited Seafront Kitchen in the Saltburn House Hotel, Saltburn, to try their parmo, which combined the Chinese-American dish with a classic Teesside delicacy.
In a video posted on social media yesterday (October 19), Kalani said he had "never seen anyone else in the UK attempt a Rangoon.”
He added: “I have never seen a Crab Rangoon this side of the Atlantic.”
Crab Rangoons are Chinese-American crisp dumplings, often filled with cream cheese, crab meat or imitation crab meat, onions and garlic, sometimes among other flavourings.
The dish served at Saltburn House Hotel combines real crab with a classic parmo, alongside what Kalani described as a Cajun influence.
He said: “In front of me we have probably the greatest culinary invention ever thought up, this is a parmo.
"If done correctly, this could be incredible.”
After trying the parmo, Kalani praised Seafront Kitchen's chef while showing off the crab-loaded chicken cutlet.
"That's a good parmo," he said, adding that the restaurant's chef had spent time in Louisiana, which he said described the "Cajun influence" he noticed throughout.
Kalani also showed interest in the restaurant's Louisiana-inspired seafood boil, but remained focused on the Teesside classic, adding: "When you order a parmo, this is the only thing you're going to be eating."
Kalani said that when British viewers ask which dishes the United States invented, his response is always: "The Crab Rangoon, California, mid-1950s," encouraging his audience to research and try the appetiser for themselves.
Seafront Kitchen were delighted at Kalani's review, writing on social media: "Over the moon that we had this legend enjoying our food, thank you so much for coming."
Kalani has used Saltburn's seaside views as a backdrop in his taste tests before, visiting the local Seaview Chippy and eating his meal in fear of nearby seagulls, an experience many British viewers could relate to.
Local commenters marvelled at the Crab Rangoon fusion dish, with one writing: “Well that’s new, looks delicious.”
Another viewer commented: “I've seen their seafood boils and they look good.
"The fact the chef has experience in Louisiana makes me definitely want to visit.”
He rated the dish 4.7/5, praising the dish's crispy chicken. Kalani said: “I feel like their other parmos would be exceptional as well.”
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Kalani Ghost Hunter is a social media creator from Nashville, Tennessee, and has has 3.4 million TikTok followers.
Originally a social media paranormal investigator, the Nashville Tiktoker has recently branched out to food reviews, sampling dishes during his travels around the North East.
His videos regularly gain millions of views from around the world, often bringing new attention to independent businesses around the North East.
Over the last two years, Kalani has gained regionwide attention through his visits to popular food spots in areas like Beamish and Redcar, alongside his overall love for the North East, most visible when he named Newcastle as one of his favourite cities in the UK, adding that it "reminds me of home."
Outside of his food reviews, Kalani visited Durham's world famous cathedral this summer.
He described the landmark as "breathtaking," adding that it was "incredible" to see figures like the Venerable Bede, who were "an important part in history."
Kalani's North East tour of trending food spots and landmarks shows no sign of stopping, with the Nashville native seemingly on his way to becoming an adopted North East legend.