Dano Holcomb

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Dano Holcomb is a Cook County, Illinois native who has developed a keen palate for Southern food, despite his Northern upbringing :) .

His parents moved to NC while he was in high school.  He attended UNCAsheville and pursued a career in college athletics.  After spending 14 years coaching NCAA Division I soccer, Dano put his first career to rest in 2009 and moved to New Orleans, LA in order to attend culinary school and pursue his dream of cooking.

During the his time in the Crescent City, Dano worked and staged in some of NOLA's finest kitchens, learning essential qualities of classic Creole, French and Southern cuisine under James Beard nominated Chefs such as Frank Brigtsen (Brigtsen's), Aaron Burgau (Patois) and Justin Devellier (La Petite Grocery).

Upon graduating from Delgado Community College in 2011 with an Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts and Phi Beta Kappa honors, Dano and his family (wife Julie and two boys - Felix and Arlo) relocated to Statesville, North Carolina to start his new project, Root Down.

​His family moved to Asheville in 2014 to spread the love and introduce the Blue Ridge Mountains to his version of Soul Food.

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Root Down took Asheville by storm; being named 4-time Best Food Truck, featuring in Southern Living Magazine’s Best Southern Food Trucks, as well as making an appearance CNN’s Wander Musts and was chosen as a Guest Chef on the Cloud 9 Adventure's music festival voyage Jam Cruise. In 2021 Dano was selected by The Food Network to appear on Dinner Impossible with celebrity Chef Robert Irvine.

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In 2019, Root Down formed a food partnership with the music venue Salvage Station, located on the banks of the French Broad River.  After years of amazing concerts, events and community gatherings, Hurricane Helene devastated the region in August of 2024 and completely demolished Salvage Station and Root Down.

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Although the food truck is gone, we are very happy to announce that you can finally eat Root Down again - This time at Terra Nova Beer Company in Swannanoa, NC.  Hope to see you soon!

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Laissez les bon temps rouler