Who we are
Matthew and Michelle Merrifield met in culinary school in California. Matthew was studying the art of French cooking while Michelle learned classic pastry techniques.
In the media
Post culinary school, Matthew and Michelle did a stint at the Bouchons bakery and bistro in Yountville, then moved to New Orleans, a vibrant city with one of the most eclectic food scenes in the country.
In 2022, the couple moved up to Charlotte from New Orleans to get some mountain air, gorgeous views, and participate in the local food scene in Vermont.
At the beginning of 2026, ten years after meeting, Matthew and Michelle found a dream restaurant location at 454 Mountain Rd. Sandwiched between the Stowe Cinema and a tattoo shop, this restaurant space housed a local diner for over 40 years and had character from its storied past as well as the potential to become something new and beautiful.
Barbarian is a place where anyone should feel comfortable and where everyone, whether in the dining room or in the kitchen, should feel cared for.
