WDM Leaders

Bio: Mike Holman, although born in Missouri, considers himself a local Iowa boy. Mike attended Dowling High School and initially pursued other career objectives before realizing that his love for food would become his dream job. Mike spent eight years at the Café in Ames working up through the kitchen and eventually becoming sous chef. While working at the Café, Mike attended culinary school at the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC and finished school with in internship at Hotel Rival in Usson-en-Forez, France. After leaving the Café, Mike worked as Sous Chef at Dos Rios Restaurant on Court Ave. where he planned and executed Tequila Dinners as well as partaking in several cooking demonstrations at venues such as the World Food Festival and Iowa’s Premier Wine and Food Expo. Along with working restaurant jobs, Mike has catered several private events and dinners in the Des Moines area. Mike was the opening executive Chef at Americana Restaurant and Lounge and has since pursued an opportunity at Tartine Restaurant in Clive that has allowed him the opportunity to utilize his knowledge and passion for fresh, local and made from scratch menus and preparations. Mike’s main focus in the restaurant industry is to give people great tasting food of the highest. “The greatest satisfaction for me is to see someone smile after taking their first bite of something I’ve made.”