Cutting-edge cuisine at new Lewiston food truck

Apr. 6—Growing up in Torrance and Compton, some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, Shamar "Chili" Jackson spent hours at a time safely off the streets watching his grandmothers cook.

In their kitchens, he absorbed the basics of Creole, Spanish, Filipino and Mexican cuisines that form the foundation of the menu at Chili Blues, a food truck that Jackson recently opened in Lewiston.

"All of those childhood memories, I put into flavor," Jackson said. "Every day we cook everything fresh."

The business is located in the parking lot of Lewiston's Corner Villa, just off 21st Street at 2110 14th Ave. Its hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., or until the food is gone, Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

One of its most popular items is Birria B Foldz ($10), which is two soft flour tacos filled with shredded, slow-roasted beef seasoned with Jackson's own blend of 20 herbs and his signature sour cream-based sauce.

Some of his dishes, like Elote ($7), are elevated by common, pre-packaged grocery store items.

Elote is described on the menu as "buttery corn with parmesan cheese, mayo, Tajin & lime juice." It's topped with crumbled, spicy Cheetos.

Chili Blues is a joint venture of Jackson and his fiancee, Reana Buoy, a Florida transplant.

They moved separately to Lewiston. She followed her mother and stepfather, who took positions at Hells Canyon Harley-Davidson when it opened.

He learned about Lewiston through his aunt and one of his grandmothers who moved to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

"They said, 'It's beautiful here,' and we've never left," he said.

Jackson and Buoy met five years ago when their children, who are friends, spotted each other shopping for school supplies at Walmart. Since then, Jackson and Buoy have been inseparable.

He began pursuing his dream of turning his passion for cooking into a career by introducing Chili Blues as a catering business a couple years ago.

He still caters through Chili Blues, has a mobile livestock slaughter business and does maintenance work for a property management company owned by his family. Buoy, who also works as a licensed practical nurse, and some of their children frequently work with him.

"Family is a big thing for us," he said.