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.

“Fries with burgers on the side.” It’s a clever little marketing tag that begs a larger question: why would anyone create a restaurant concept that makes a leading man out of America’s favorite culinary sidekick, the humble french fry? For Blake Lingle, co-founder of Boise Fry Co., the answer is simple. He just wanted a great fry.