John and Krista Jee with their sons Jordan, Vandegrift junior, and Justin, Canyon Ridge Middle School 7th grader.
- Share how you and your wife, Krista, decided on the World Kitchen food truck in Four Points?
It has always been a dream of mine to start my own restaurant. However, the financial risk was too much when you’re trying to also raise a family. Then I started to research food trucks in Austin and ran some numbers. The risk is still there but much more affordable and it’s a great stage to test out your food ideas. Fortunately, I have a wonderful wife who supports most of my crazy ideas, and so here we are.
2) Share some background that led you to this point.
I had just left a company that I had worked for the past 12 years and decided there will always be an opportunity to be a corporate controller somewhere, but owning a food trailer in Four Points, well that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up. With my older child a couple of years away from college, my wife and I decided it’s now or never.
3) Do you have other careers?
I am a CPA and had been working as a corporate controller for a real estate investment company here in Austin. Krista works from home as an attorney for a law firm based in California. So with careers in accounting and law, I like our chances.
4) Tell us what brought you to Four Points.
My wife and I were looking to move out of California in search of a better and slower pace of life 13 years ago. Of all the states that Krista can practice law without retaking the bar exam, Texas was the warmest. And once we decided on Texas, everyone we spoke to said Austin. So we came here on a family vacation, and the realtor showed us Steiner Ranch and we instantly fell in love with the community. Great schools, great neighbors, great trails and great lakes nearby. What’s not to like?!
5) Is cooking a hobby/passion?
Cooking is my passion and eating great food is my family’s passion. Before we travel anywhere, we do a lot of research so that we only eat at best places. We also really enjoy trying new things and discovering new foods. And if we find something that we all love, I try to recreate that dish in my kitchen. Our Cuban chicken is a perfect example of that passion. That passion is also the same reason why our menu is so diverse. My family enjoys food from many cultures, so why only serve one type of dish?
6) Please share your signature dish at World Kitchen Austin (located at 6812 RM 620 N next to Regard Jewelry near Juice House).
One of our most popular dishes right now is Korean beef BBQ. It all starts with great quality short rib meat that I marinate for several days in my mom’s secret recipe. I use various fresh fruits to naturally sweeten and tenderize the meat. What you get is a tender, juicy beef that has hint of sweetness and that does not overwhelm the natural flavor of the beef itself. I even had one customer, who came everyday for six straight days and only ordered Korean BBQ.
Vandegrift soccer players stopped in at World Kitchen Austin recently.