Before he was known for his flavor-blasting wings and fluffy French toast, Palo Alto High School senior Shreyas Shashi was just “Bobo” — a childhood nickname that transitioned over time into “Chef Bobo.”

Shashi has always had a passion for cooking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many were seeking comfort and connection, Shashi found consolation through food and cooking.

“In eighth grade, I had this food [Instagram] story where I cooked a lot,” Shashi said. “During COVID-19, I would post #chefbobo since my childhood nickname was Bobo, and after that, I remember just essentially blowing up and getting like 4,000 to 5,000 views.”

For Shashi, food is not about the ingredients or the recipes — it’s about the impact it can have on people’s lives and its ability to create change throughout the community, whether at school or throughout his neighborhood.

That passion for food soon turned into action, as Shashi sought different ways to make a difference through cooking for kids in summer school.

“Kids need food to eat, and they deserve a little bit more than what the school has given them,” Shashi said. “They’re going in [to summer school], trying to make change, trying to fix their grades and [trying to] get ready for the next school year. I went to summer school. I gave them food. I didn’t even charge them. It was all about giving opportunity and access to food equity, that’s the main goal.”

Over the next several years, Shashi began to grow his cooking and give back to the community. By giving out his food for free to kids around his neighborhood or at Palo Alto High, Shashi says he was able to bring people together to bond over one shared love: food.

“I’m not trying to make [a] profit,” Shashi said. “I’m not trying to build a massive franchise or anything, I’m trying to give an opportunity for kids of any sort. Whether it’s kids [in] East Palo Alto, kids who are on food stamps, or anyone in need, I’m here.”

Originally, Shashi was primarily focused on doing what he loved to do: cooking and giving back to the community. However, once Shashi noticed how inflated local restaurants were, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

When Shashi started selling his food in March 2024 out of his backyard, he quickly gained popularity in the neighborhood with people like Palo Alto High School junior Kacey Washington, a frequent customer of Shashi’s.

“I saw the [Instagram] story, and it [Shashi’s food] just looked spectacular,” Washington said. “It’s so hard not to come back when you’ve had that first bite and it becomes addicting at that point. And he’s a funny guy, you get your food and enjoy his company.”

Orders were constantly coming in, with many eager to taste a new recipe Shashi cooked up. During that buzz of orders, Palo Alto High junior Iverson Lee came in as a sous chef.

“I first met him [Shashi] through basketball, and he took me under his wing, kind of like he’s my big brother,” Lee said. “I used to just go over to his house and we both had a passion for cooking, so that’s kind of what sparked the conversation about us cooking and collaborating together.”

As their teamwork evolved, so did their impact on the Palo Alto area. What started as casual backyard cooking quickly elevated into a community-uniting food service, with both chefs ensuring that every meal contained the same level of quality and care.

“I think we both agree that while having fun, we’re also doing good by trying to get back to the community,” Lee said. “But [we are] also getting better at the process of cooking, and it’s great cause I love spending time with him [Shashi]. He’s such a great person with such a big heart, and I know that this mission is really genuine which makes it so much better.”

Whether he’s serving students in need, collaborating with friends or challenging restaurant trends, Shashi’s passion for cooking has reached the community by bringing people together.”

“Every time you have a big event, there will be some sort of food,” Shashi said. “Food brings people together, specifically [in] my backyard. People won’t know each other, but they’ll bond over my food.”