It stands to reason that food is an essential part of the Treasure Valley’s much loved ski hill. After all, says food and beverage director Ryan (call him “Mo”) Morrison, “skiing is a social activity, and like any social activity, food is involved.”

Chef Vern Hickman heads up the culinary arts program that is just one component of Meridian’s Joint School District 2 vocational/technology program. In this podcast episode, Chef Hickman shares the vision of his program, the story behind the state-of-the art kitchen facilities where his high school students train, and the lure of a culinary career that has been created by the popular media in cable shows like Iron Chef.

If you want proof that Parrilla Grill has won plenty of converts to its iconoclastic belief in the limitless possibilities of what a tortilla can be wrapped around, just consider this: in March of this year, Parrilla Grill will celebrate its 10th anniversary as a fixture of the Treasure Valley culinary scene.