The Table Rock – Details, episodes & analysis

What does it take to build a creative career that lasts? Chef, educator, and creator Justin Khanna joins Alx and Julie to talk about growth, sustainability, and the balancing act between ambition and burnout. From Michelin-starred kitchens like Per Se and Noma to launching his own hospitality education company, Repertoire, Justin shares the pivots that shaped his path and the rituals that keep him grounded. This conversation explores how to sustain creativity — not just in food, but in any passion that demands everything you’ve got.

 Why put fries before burgers? In this Red Meat Nation episode, Alx and Julie sit down with Blake Lingle, founder of Boise Fry Company, to explore Idaho’s dual love affair with beef and potatoes — and how one restaurant turned that identity into an art form. Blake shares how a creative concept became a local staple, what sustainability means in the restaurant world, and why representing Idaho’s food culture matters. From sourcing spuds to shaping community, this is a story about roots, risk, and the flavor of home.

The Table Rock duo (TR) chat about what’s been on their plate lately. Tune in to hear about Alex applying to Love is Blind on Netflix and more!

In this episode, the Tablerock duo, Alex and Julie, rock the table with Royd Carlson, The Teff Company Marketing and Agriculture Manager.  Alex also works with Teff as the marketing coordinator.  Teff is the national food of Ethiopia and one of the earliest domesticated plants.  Teff seeds were found in a pyramid in 3350 B.C. Teff planting and distribution was started in Idaho by Royd’s father in Caldwell. Today, Royd and his brother Gareth, who is CEO, mill the seeds and distribute Teff flour as well as grain across all fifty states.  Join us as the Tablerock duo talks about Teff, a super-food. Where to sample it and buy it in Idaho.  Learn how to start a business with just a vision and a Washington D.C. phone book.  Why would Royd like Idaho to become known as one of the largest Teff distributors in the country. Teffric!

Table Rock Podcast talks with Alex’s private chef Clean Cuisine by Gina. They go over her influences as a chef while sampling a salad. Eating the rainbow is discussed. Boiseans will want to tune in to hear about the Treasure Valleys most sustainable meal service (Boise, Meridian, Eagle). It’s all about crudités darling. Her cooking is healthy and soulful and so is her story. The duo as usual stirs up the pot to see what’s cooking.

Table Rock Podcast looks at the nature of influencers. Everyone has some impact or influence on another but only a very few make money as influencers.  Alex and Julie discuss influence from their individual perspectives. What does it mean to be an influencer?   The answer seems to be some combination of changing the behavior, attitudes, of values of another person.  With influence comes power and morality.  Social Media has greatly expanded the platform for influencers to make money for themselves and the products they push. The duo also discuss their personal influencers and power influencers in Boise focusing on food and the social safety net.  Join the Tablet Rock duo as they shake up a glass of marbles to see what ideas fall out on the topic of influencers.  While munching on lettuce wraps from Clean Cuisine by Gina.

Newbie foodies, professional content creators, career influencers and the current Idaho Statesman food contributor chat about their purpose in focusing their time on highlighting local food. They also discuss how the lack of understanding of the importance of social media marketing is limiting local brands and restaurants.

This episode is released in collaboration with the “The Table RockLocal food influencers are effecting real change in the current food culture. Recorded live at Treefort, seven of these such foodies discuss their thoughts on Idaho food, restaurant marketing and hopes for the growing Treasure Valley food scene.

” Podcast

Host - Julie Robinson of Table Rock Podcast

Guests:

Alex Milles - Food blogger/ Table Rock Podcast

Natalie Plummer of The Boise Bubble Podcast and Hello Meridian

Tyler Grant - Tastefully Tyler Instagram

Mike Wallace - Boise Food Critic Instagram

Lauren Henry - Treasure Valley Treats and Eats

Scott Wink - Boise’s Best Bites

Alex talks with @TastefullyTyler and Chef Reno of Anthonys Seafood in Boise, inviting Natalie from @HelloMeridian on the stage.

In this final Neighborhood episode, the Table Rock Duo, Alex and Julie, introduce the audience to their neighborhoods. Julie has lived in the East end over 25 years and Alex lives in Meridian near Kuna. On their tour, the duo visits some of Boise’s most iconic eateries such as Fancy Freeze, Flying M Coffee, the Flicks and Lucky 13. The duo also reviews many of the events coming up in September that make Boise such a great place to live like Bronco Football, Art in the Park, and Pride. Alex and Julie are pleased to be invited to appear at Treefort. They will be conducting a live podcast with Gemma Gaudette, host of Idaho Matters on Boise Public Radio on Saturday, September 25th at 1 pm at the Boise Centre on the Grove. #Treefort #Idahomatters

The Table Rock duo, Alex and Julie, share a Tony G’s pizza from Crave. Tony G originated in San Francisco. Named after the owner, Tony G has won all sorts of awards for his pizza dough. Alex has had the privilege of seeing Tony toss a pizza in Boise. While munching on great crust, Julie gives Alex a set of Kitchen Tarot cards. There are 22 cards created by Susan Shie and Dennis Fairchild. The cards are intended to provide soul nourishing readings to go with great food. Alex does tarot readings for friends and at parties. During this podcast, he does a reading of the future of the Table Rock podcast by drawing three cards “past,” “present,” and “future”. Listen in as the Table Rock Duo goes mystical by consulting the tarot cards about the future. #tarot, #kitchentarot, #food #TonyG