A master pastry chef known in Walla Walla wine country for savory sourdough and other delectable breads is showcasing his skills on the Food Network. Michele Pompei, the co-owner of Walla Walla Bread Co., is one of 10 bakers to battle it out on “Best Baker in America.”

Pompei is the first contestant from the Northwest to appear on the TV competition that is going into its fourth season. With decades of experience crafting masterpiece baked goods, Pompei and his wife Coral left Seattle in 2018 to settle down in Southeast Washington and to buy a shop on Main Street.