Wayne Mark Schafer (born August 28, 1963) is an East Coast barbecue pitmaster and owner of Big Fat Daddy's concession stands and catering.

Schafer's earliest print article in the Baltimore Sun Archives Maryland Section, circa 1984, shows him as selling primarily carnival type food such as Italian sausage, pizza, and onion rings.

The menu later expanded to include gyros, various meat sandwiches, souvlaki, lamb sausage, cheesesteak, hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks.

The Schafer brothers were the subject of many articles and books, particularly for their origination of a dry rub seasoning and the way in which the pit beef was grilled at high heat over hardwood.

Soon to follow came Baltimore-raised author Steven Raichlen whose featured article in the New York Times gave away the base recipe for the dry rub seasoning.

[citation needed] Court transcripts show Wayne Schafer gained full ownership of Big Fat Daddy's in 2005 after a lengthy legal battle.

In November 2014, Big Fat Daddy's was inducted into the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SOFAB)[4] in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of its permanent exhibit of the "Trail of Smoke and Fire".

[16] The induction was based solely on Schafer's contribution to Maryland's pit beef and dry rub culinary history which Raichlen calls "Baltimore's Version of Barbecue".

Schafer's own "Crab Dip in a Bread Boule" recipe was chosen to air on season one of the Cooking Channel's Carnival Eats television show in episode 1.2 entitled "Viva!

Schafer was invited back to the show and featured as a repeat guest for his "Colossal Got Beef Crabcake Sandwich" on season 2 episode 2.7 "From Strawberry to Silver Dollar", which first aired on September 10, 2015.

At one point in life, Schafer obtained his Commercial Driver's License and considered a change of career from the hectic concessions business, but disliked the long time away from his family during a stint with Schneider.

[33] Schafer also ran a several-year scholarship for Kenwood High School in remembrance of Anna Stickel, a young teen (he had never met) who was hit crossing the railroad tracks in his home town of Baltimore, to raise awareness.

He cooks for enjoyment and although he is a lifetime member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society and Mid Atlantic Barbecue Association, he does not compete due to his hectic work schedule.

[citation needed] He resides in Baltimore, Maryland and Danforth, Maine with third wife Cindy Fahnestock-Schafer, also known as artist and book author Ira Mency.