HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Country Wok Owner Kenny Lee was a soldier in the United States Army. Being deployed to Iraq gave him the opportunity to explore a different way of life, including indulging in street food culture. After his military service he enrolled at the French Culinary Institute in New York City, where he perfected his culinary craft. Drawn in by Southern culture, Lee said, he found himself in Alabama with his family. They purchased a farm, raising livestock.
I asked Lee what inspired him to get into the culinary scene.
“I’ve always liked eating, and I watched the Food Network all the time growing up,” said Lee, who mentioned he was very curious as to what his mother and grandmother were getting up to in the kitchen.
He said when he got back home from Iraq his uncle took him to an expensive restaurant.
“At the time I was kind of embarrassed; here I was in this fancy restaurant wearing jeans and a T-shirt,” said Lee, who shared he was very impressed with the staff. “They went into professional mode, and all I remember is how comfortable they made me feel. It was a very clean, formal restaurant, but I felt like I was at home and I was not nervous at all. And that’s what made me realize: I want to be a part of this.”
Lee told me he doesn’t eat out very often; however, when he did he was left feeling unsatisfied – all he really wanted was his grandmother’s fried rice. “I’d take a bite and I’d just think, ‘This is not my grandmother’s fried rice. I think I can do a little bit better.’”
He wanted to bring good food to good people. “Let’s give people some good food, honest food, respectful food.” He said the most important thing about his restaurant is respect, and this effort is already underway in the community he now calls home. Lee said he was lucky to find the building for the restaurant. He said, “For me, the building was perfect; it already had a great setup for a kitchen. I like having an open kitchen so people can see how their food is being prepared.”
So far, Country Wok favorites are Eggrolls and Korean Fried Wings, which he said took him three months to profect. Lee stated that the eggroll was a real team effort and that’s why it’s his favorite. You can also find Mapo Tofu, Mongolian Beef, Xianjiang-Style Chicken Skewers and, of course, Grandma’s Cantonese Fried Rice.
When it comes to ingredients, Lee said, he tries to source locally as much as he can from Alabama and other Southern states. “I use wild-caught Gulf shrimp, I use Golden Eagle brand syrup in our sauces. That’s a local favorite.” He sources his mushrooms from Georgia and North Carolina when the opportunity presents itself.
As for the menu, Lee said he plans to keep it compact so as to not overwhelm his customers or his staff. “I might do weekly specials,” he stated, “but I also want to make sure that my team isn’t overwhelmed; we always want to execute well.” He said for now he will stick to just changing a menu item 2-3 times every three months and having about 25 menu items to choose from.
Orders can be placed online at www.countrywok.com,through Doordash or by calling 256-887-1360. Catering is also available on the Country Wok website.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to rest and eat, find Country Wok in historic downtown Hanceville at 107 Bangor Ave., Ste. A. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
