Shawn Niles—known across kitchens, fire pits, and fine dining rooms as The Fat Pastor—is a Yakima, Washington–based private chef and food sport promoter whose journey spans MasterChef, international kitchens, and open-fire mastery. After Gordon Ramsay famously told him he was “born to cook,” Shawn trained and cooked throughout Italy, Spain, and Portugal, including time with legendary Chef Massimo Bottura in Modena.
 

His food style is best described as Global Comfort Food with a refined Pacific Northwest Italian twist—rich in soul, rooted in the land, and centered around fire and flavor.

 

A pioneer of Yakima Valley Wine Country, Shawn founded Bite Club, the nation’s first legal underground dining club, now serving 250+ members. He also created Urban Kitchen, a free culinary and business school for underserved youth, launching the next generation of food leaders.

His accolades include multiple “Best Chef” honors and making history as the first competitor to score a perfect 100 in the Live Fire Division of the World Food Championships.

 

Shawn now serves as a celebrity judge for the World BBQ Finals, as host of the Sam’s Club Bite Club Stage at the World Food Championships, and is launching the Pacific Northwest Food Championships, a regional food sport league debuting at major events including Kirkland Uncorked, an event drawing 5000+ in attendance. He’s also partnered with Reel Adventures on
Reel To Table—curated fishing and culinary experiences across the Pacific Northwest.
 

Whether curating winemaker dinners, feeding celebrities and political figures, or filming Wine Country Kitchen and Urban Kitchen, Shawn brings joy, excellence, and purpose to everything he cooks. His favorite kitchen companions are his wife, Tenielle, and son, Asher—MasterChef Junior finalist & Kids World Open Fire Champion—proving that in the Niles household, flavor is legacy and fire runs in the family.
 

Follow The Fat Pastor at:
Facebook: @TheFatPastorYakima
Instagram: @The.FatPastor
TikTok: @thefatpastoryakima
Website: www.thefatpastor.com
 

For Private Events and All Other Requests: TheFatPastor@TheFatPastor.com

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