Chef Jamie Barnes was born and raised in Newport News, VA. Growing up around Southern cuisine combined with a love for Food Network shows, he enrolled in Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte in 2004. Barnes would go on to work with Harpers Restaurant Group and Ballantyne Country Club among other notable places. Gaining a passion for the food truck scene, Barnes acquired a truck with College friend Greg Williams and started What The Fries food truck in 2015.
Eventually opening a brick and mortar in 2021 until 2024. The business garnered a huge following and was featured virally on Tik Tok , Food Network and The Cooking Channel. He also has cooked at the prestigious James Beard House in NYC and is a frequent participant in many food festivals. Chef Barnes is also an alumnus of the 26th James Beard Foundation Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change. Currently, Barnes also oversees the Culinary aspects of Serving The Culture, a music-based Pop-Up Dinner Series. Chef lives in Clover, SC (right outside of Charlotte NC) with his wife Alicia, and their children, Lily, Levi & Lane (RIP) and serves as the High School Culinary Instructor at Rock Hill School Systems at the Applied Technology Center.
