Forty-nine year old Jobe Guillory has been in the kitchen since age 9.

“I can still remember standing on a milk crate making breakfast,” he said.

His parents owned a corner store, a paint and body shop and a restaurant. After high school, he paid his dues in both fine and fast food establishments for years.

“I helped train staff for Ruby Tuesdays’ and Copelands,” he said. “I’ve worked at the Isle of Capri, L’Auberge. I ran the packing plant for Abe’s.  I can do anything. I’m not laughing. You don’t hear me laughing.”

Now he has his own business, a food trailer, JJ’s Jammin Food, and Guillory says he’s working harder now than he ever has when he worked for someone else.

“I’m not complaining,” he said. “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. Jesus finally
blessed me with this three years ago in September.”

His food is Creole, Cajun and soul inspired. His menu is ridiculous.

“I serve four entrees every day,” he said, “smothered beef tips over rice, smothered  okra and shrimp over rice, red beans with smoked sausage and rice and chicken and sausage jambalaya.”

Plate lunches come with two sides. JJ’s Jammin Food choices also include fried shrimp, fried fish, fried chicken wings and grilled fish or shrimp for those who want healthy options. Vegetables are fresh and he has at least three to choose from, sometimes more. These include spicy cabbage, country green beans, country corn, collard greens, mustard greens, yams, field peas, purple hull peas and macaroni and cheese. He calls his burger the Goosport smoked burger. It and the other sandwiches, including a pork chop sandwich, are served on a jalapeno cheddar sourdough bun.

Like other restaurant owners, the high cost of food has been a challenge. He did offer even more options.

At one time, he wanted to be a coach, but he says that ship has sailed, though he admitted it is very gratifying to have worked with local youth sports teams.

“I’ve coached a lot of kids,” he said. “Some have come back and thanked me and said, ‘Man I didn’t understand what you were saying back then, but now I do.’”

To find out where JJ’s Jammin Food is parked and daily specials, customers follow the social media page.

“I move around a lot, like Superman,” he said.

(This time he did laugh.)

“Where’s the money? That’s where I’ll be. I’mma go get it.”

He also caters, and he’ll be exchanging money for great food on Wednesday at 2727 Gerstner Memorial Dr., where the old bowling alley used to be. He’s at Christus Oschner Lake Area Hospital at 4650 Nelson Road today.