Viral US TikToker praises South West takeaways

A TikToker from Tennessee who became "obsessed" with British food has given his seal of approval to takeaway nosh in Devon and Cornwall.

Kalani Smith, who goes by Kalani Ghost Hunter online, racks up millions of views posting his reviews on social media and he recently finished a tour of the South West.

He sampled pasties, spicy spuds and a local ale on his visit - and he explained he learned the hard way about the jam and cream rivalry that remains a heavily contested point between the counties.

Georgie Morgia, who runs Mrs Browns Bakery in Plymouth, said "everyone was a bit blown away" when Smith walked in and she reported a surge in sales after the business was reviewed.

Smith said he had a "wonderful time" in the South West, adding: "The folks down there are really nice.

"But something I picked up on very quickly is you don't want to get in between the Devon-Cornwall debate because there's no winning."

Smith said he found himself in a difficult position when explaining why he applies cream first on a scone in Cornwall, which typically favours jam first.

"I just look at the cream as butter," he said.

"I put the cream on first then the jam, but the moment I brought that up in Cornwall, it was not a good sight."

Morgia, who runs three Mrs Browns Bakery shops in Plymouth, said staff were "making the most" of the surge in sales after the visit.

"Everyone was a bit blown away because we are fans of him and we watch his videos," she said.

"The pressures and financial pressures are crazy, but for Kalani coming in, honestly it has just changed everything at the minute.

"All three shops have sold-out, we've been waking up at 3am and selling out.

"We know it won't last forever so we are just making the most of it, the people of Plymouth coming in and finding out about us, it's just fantastic and we are super grateful for it."

Smith said he "loved to hear" the news of the surge in sales, adding: "Some people don't realise that I'm not looking to get paid by anybody, like everything that I do is just because I find it and want to go experience it.

"If I post about it, I just want to share it - so it's always nice to help out a local business and that makes me happy that folks went down there and tried them out."

Another spot visited by Smith was The Nobody Inn pub in the Devon village of Doddiscombsleigh, which he described as "cosy".

He tried a prawn cocktail, steak pie and a local ale during the visit.

Chris Canevali, who manages the pub alongside his partner Coral, said the visit was unplanned and a "great surprise".

"He just appeared on Monday evening and started recording his video, it has been fantastic since," he said.

"We had no idea who he was until he had been and gone and uploaded his video after - it was a great surprise really.

"We have immediately had more people booking in, it's been great."

The TikToker then made his way to West Park Chippy in Plymouth, where he sampled the local delicacy of spicy spuds.

After sampling the potatoes covered in batter, Smith said: "I honestly don't know why these aren't at every chippy in the UK."

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