A chicken parmo is a major part of the food culture of the North East of the UK. Said to be originated from Teesside, this iconic dish can be found all over the region.
Deep-fried and breaded chicken breast coated in a luscious bechamel sauce and melted with loads of cheese – that’s a recipe for a fantastic dinner… and probably a heart attack if you have too many.
While the dish is popular in the North-East, many in the South haven’t tried a chicken parmo.
Among them is Danielle Elton from our sister site 2Chill, as she rates her experience of trying out the dish for the first time.
(Image: Danielle Elton)
“The North East is home to some local specialities that you’ll probably only find on the menu when in that neck of the woods – pease pudding, panaculty, stottie cakes.
And then there’s the parmo – a chicken dish that is said to originate from Teesside.
Being from Essex, I wasn’t familiar with the dish, until taking a trip up north to Sunderland.
So what is this parmo that northerners rate so highly?
Having eaten in many Italian restaurants, I’m familiar with chicken parmigiana – breaded chicken with a tomato-based sauce topped with cheese. It’s a dish I’d often order.
So with a name very similar, I assumed it would be the same. And in a way they are, except they taste very different, and that’s all thanks to the sauce.
(Image: Evening Gazette)
A parmo is breaded chicken topped with bechamel sauce and loaded with cheese. Although a Middlesborough speciality, it is actually enjoyed all over the North East.
It’s on the menu at many restaurants, sold at all good takeaways, and there’s even a company that delivers them in the post.
And while a kebab might be the food of choice for many after going out for drinks, in Sunderland it’s the parmo.
So after enjoying a few cocktails with my sister at my favourite bar in the city, The Dead Rabbit, I decided to try a parmo, for the very first time.
What surprised me at first was the size of it. Usually accompanied by chips, it’s definitely a two-person job, so we shared. And it was only about £8. Bargain!
We opted for the classic, although there were many varieties – pepperoni, mushroom, Hawaian, BBQ and even bolognese. I think the only difference is the sauce, and some with extra toppings.
And after giving this northern speciality a try for myself, I have to say that it’s pretty good. I definitely understand why it’s so popular. It’s indulgent, oozy, cheesy – what’s not to love about that?
I’m almost disappointed that I can’t order them back home in Essex. I definitely would. Although that’s probably for the best. I bet they’re calorific!