Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shawn Niles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shawn, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Over my 42 years, I’ve faced my share of challenges. There’s something about trauma that can really define you. My parents were older when I was born, and I lost my father at a young age. I’ve watched my sister lose two children to tragic causes, my brother passed at a very young age, I’ve had friends abandon me, and fought through the challenge of almost losing my family due to workaholism. In every situation, I’ve looked fear in the eye and grabbed those close to me by the hand and said, “Tell me what I can’t do.” I refuse to be defined by trauma, yet simultaneously it has become a catalyst to embrace radical growth and refinement.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The Fat Pastor was launched when Gordon Ramsay told me I was born to cook. As a 20 year pastor, food had only been an intense passion, not something I ever thought I would become a career. When Chef Ramsay confirmed that passion, I decided that I would try to take it further. And it has grown significantly.
I also aimed to make a difference through food in my community. Coming from a community that has faced it’s share of violence and addiction, I realized that the biggest problem facing my city was that the problem wasn’t MY problem. I could only make a difference through extreme ownership. So I launched a program for teens that teaches them Business & Culinary Skills called Urban Kitchen. The 4 month program culminates with them running their own pop-up restaurant for 3 nights where they will serve about 180 people.
Since Fat Pastor was launched in 2017, we’ve had unbelievable opportunities. Perhaps the most exciting and humbling opportunity was the invite to stay at the home of Massimo Bottura in Modena, Italy in 2022 where I was able to learn from the world renowned chef and experience his community through his eyes. It was life changing.
Most people will find me in Yakima cooking for Winemakers Dinners, Pop-Ups, or as a member of our underground dining club, Bite Club, which also happens to be the first legal underground dining club in the nation. We are in the process of expanding Bite Club nationally through a partnership with the World Food Championships.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most important defining qualities in my life would boil down to spirituality, grit and creativity.
I believe that everyone is born with incredible and infinite value, regardless of how they identify, their station in life, perfections or imperfections. And that value comes from someplace and someone. Determining who that someone is is the most important discovery anyone will ever make, because when you understand your infinite value, you know that you can take the next step forward. My relationship with God, knowing that He has a plan for my life and that He loves me unconditionally has created a foundation that cannot be shaken, even when I am.
I have clenched my teeth in tears, and when everything inside of me wanted to run away and give up, it was grit and determination that kept me upright. I knew that if I could face the challenges behind me, then I could face the challenges in front of me. My history set a course for my destiny.
Creativity and curiosity have always been my method of living. I always ask the question “what is possible?” Everything that we have in this world came from someone asking that question, and I’m convinced that the world has not stopped creating. There are things in front of us that people behind us never dreamt possible. And I want to be a dreamer and creator who achieves the impossible.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always excited to meet and connect with people who are looking for ways to empower the world through food. Especially those who want to help the next generation become empowered to succeed. Our school, Urban Kitchen, is a very replicable model. We’d love to help others build programs like this in their community. We’d also love to work with generous benefactors who believe in the next generation, and are resourced to help programs like ours succeed. I can be reached through any of my social media platforms, or by email at [email protected]
IG: @The.FatPastor
Facebook: @thefatpastoryakima
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefatpastor.com
- Instagram: the.fatpastor
- Facebook: thefatpastoryakima
- Other: tiktok: thefatpastoryakima
Image Credits
Hollandaise Photo: Aubrey LeGault
All Others: Shawn Niles
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
