La Luz de la Comunidad: Rolling Out New Dreams with Derick Magee
“If food be the fruit of love, egg roll on then!” — Mr. Han
Houston Community Spotlight: Shining a Light on Local Houston Gems
At Amigo Energy, we love a good “fighter” story—the kind fueled by relentless grit, big dreams, and honest hard work. When we launched our Bright Minds Scholarship in partnership with the Houston City College (HCC) Foundation, our goal was to support students of all backgrounds who are writing their next chapters. Enter Derick Magee. At 60+ years young, Derick is a culinary student at HCC, a Bright Minds scholar, and the visionary business owner behind Mr. Han’s Egg Roll Xpress, LLC. Derick’s business takes unique global cuisine profiles and fuses them together inside a crispy, classic egg roll wrapper. We sat down with him to talk about the dream that woke him up in the middle of the night, how he’s building a lifelong brand, and the pure joy of feeding the Houston community.
The Culinary Journey & Bright Minds
What was the “spark” or the moment that made you decide to head back to school and dive into the culinary arts at this stage in your life?
The spark would come about during my sleep in February 2025. The message was simplistic and clear, “Egg Rolls, my son.” Not a loud booming sound, but a gentle whisper that awakened me out of slumber like a soft breeze. There has been a plethora of challenges; age, finances, health concerns, etc. However, with each hurdle that I am allowed to cross comes the feeling of accomplishment.
A Taste of Innovation: Mr. Han’s Egg Roll Xpress
Your business features a very unique fusion concept. What inspired you to use egg rolls to bridge different culinary cultures?
Having spanned the globe several times and enjoyed various cuisines, I thought that it would be a way for cultures to be exposed to each other by way of a simple egg roll. Currently, the Southside is seemingly enthralled with the NY Chopped Cheese sandwich-inspired egg roll.
Wisdom & Life Changes
What has been the most rewarding part of this chapter in your life?
The most rewarding part of this chapter in my life is the feedback that I get when someone tastes the product and asks if they can hire me for an event. Also, that look on their face when they taste the product for the first time.
Community & The Houston Food Scene
Houston is world-famous for its food diversity. How does the local community inspire the flavors you choose for your fusion egg rolls?
The local community indirectly, or should I say passively inspires the vision due to the fact that I have traveled abroad and found it to be refreshing to be able to feed someone a dish native to their land of origin. You just cannot beat the response.
Looking Ahead: Dreams & Advice
What is the ultimate “big picture” goal for Mr. Han’s Egg Roll Xpress over the next few years?
The big picture for Mr. Han’s Egg Roll Xpress, LLC is to build a brand to be replicated in perpetuity.
Powering Brighter Futures Together
Derick’s story is a beautiful reminder that inspiration doesn’t care about a number on a birth certificate. It just takes a simple spark, the courage to tackle life’s hurdles, and a dependable foundation to help see it through. At Amigo Energy, we are honored to play a small part in Derick’s culinary journey through the Bright Minds program, helping provide a little extra peace of mind so he can focus on building his flavor empire. We know that when our neighbors succeed, the whole Texas community shines brighter!
Are You a Bright Mind (or Do You Know One)?
Applications for the Amigo Energy Bright Minds Scholarship are officially open again! If you are a current or future Houston City College student looking to fuel your education and jumpstart your career, we want to help.
Apply today or share the link with a deserving student in your life. Let’s keep pushing those hurdles aside together!
