A FORMER Masterchef UK contestant has revealed he has been cooking delicious meals for his elderly neighbour during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthony O’Shaughnessy featured in the 2018 edition of the BBC cooking series, making it all the way to the semi-finals that year.
The 28-year-old currently works at Leeds Cookery School but has been staying with his mother in Newcastle during the current lockdown.
It’s here that he met Peter, his mum’s elderly neighbour, who is into his 70s and unable to leave the house because of an underlying health condition.
Anthony’s mum has been keeping in regular contact with Peter over the phone but was recently dismayed to learn that, despite organising for a supermarket shopping to be delivered, his order had twice been cancelled.
Keen to do his bit while on leave from work during the pandemic, Anthony duly stepped in to provide Peter with some delicious home-cooked meals – and he’s been cooking for him ever since.
"I've been feeding the old man next door for about a month now,” O’Shaughnessy wrote on Twitter.
"I ring him before I make dinner so I know to make extra"
Peter is incredibly thankful too, telling the talented chef "I look forward to this every day".
I've been feeding the old man next door for about a month now. I ring him before I make dinner so I know to make extra. I just called to let him know what I'm making tonight: Broccoli Parmesan Farfalle and Lime-Frosted Carrot Cake. 'I look forward to this every day' he said.
— Anthony O'Shaughnessy (@anthonyshock) April 20, 2020
"My mam turns her nose up at my cooking most of the time," O’Shaughnessy added.
"He's never turned down anything I've made. He loves spices and hot food and has really excellent taste. It's nice to share that with somebody."
My mam turns her nose up at my cooking most of the time. He's never turned down anything I've made. He loves spices and hot food and has really excellent taste. It's nice to share that with somebody.
— Anthony O'Shaughnessy (@anthonyshock) April 20, 2020
O’Shaughnessy’s kind act has not gone unnoticed on social media, with the tweets detailing his generosity racking up thousands of likes and retweets.
Returning to social media after the tweets went viral, he called on others to follow his lead by doing something kind for a neighbour or someone else in the community.
Here’s his dinner tonight anyways - the pasta was delicious! pic.twitter.com/nJ7oAQ3IBx
— Anthony O'Shaughnessy (@anthonyshock) April 20, 2020
"I hope you’re inspired to help your neighbours," he said.
Based over in Yorkshire but originally from Newcastle, O’Shaughnessy boasts some obvious Irish heritage with the surname's origins dating back to the 1500s when it was first found in County Galway.
