BY STACEY WALLACE / FOR THE OBSERVER
PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE / FOR THE OBSERVER
As I have mentioned before in this column, I have two much older brothers named Jim and Mike. Now, when Jim was in the 12th grade, and Mike was in the 10th, I was in the third. I thought that they were grown; I was very wrong.
By the time I was in sixth grade, Jim and Mike were at Auburn University, as a junior and freshman, respectively. I loved when Daddy, Mama and I would drive up the west 280 Highway from our hometown of Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals) to visit my brothers at the Loveliest Village on The Plains. Once in 1975, we took my 12th birthday present, my new puppy, War Eagle Lobo, to visit Jim and Mike. Since Lobo was a thoroughbred German Shepherd, three names were required for him.
During this time, Auburn had a delicious pizza place called Chanello’s, so we ordered two pizzas to go. Also, we stopped by Krystal’s to order Lobo a couple of hamburgers.
When we returned to Jim and Mike’s trailer on Wire Road, all six Pattons chowed down happily, including Lobo, who gladly wolfed down his burgers. (“Lobo” is Spanish for “wolf,” by the way.) As I’ve probably mentioned before, Jim says that when our family eats, “It’s like feeding time at the zoo.” In other words, it’s the only time we get quiet.
Forty-eight years have passed since then, and a funny thing has happened. Now that Jim is 69, Mike is 67, and I’m only 60 (I couldn’t resist.), my brothers don’t seem quite as old as they did when I was 12. However, I will always be the youngest, and, therefore, the most important of the Patton offspring. But I digress.
Recently, my brother Mike and sister-in-law Sandi visited with my husband Mike and me for a few days on their way back home to Texas after a vacation. They also visited Sandi’s family, many of whom live in Auburn and Opelika. When Mike and I asked them where they would like to go for supper on the first day they arrived, Sandi suggested Taste of Asia. Sandi said that Taste of Asia was her brother Rick Hagans’s favorite Chinese restaurant in town. That sounded good to us, so we traveled to the Asian Supermarket at 3750 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika.
Taste of Asia is inside the Asian Supermarket and has a very attractive interior. Also, Dan Dan, our server, was so sweet, helpful and patient.
For our appetizer, Mike and I chose the crab rangoon. Mike ordered cashew chicken as his entrée, while I chose sesame chicken.
My brother Mike ordered hot and sour soup and General Tso’s chicken. Sandi selected egg drop soup and moo goo gai pan.
All of us ordered fried rice because this is Alabama; anything fried just naturally tastes better.
I could probably eat an old boot if it were fried correctly.
Well, it was feeding time at the zoo all over again. We got quiet because the food was oh, my three times good. Rick Hagans, you have great taste in Chinese restaurants. Thank you!
Trust me; run and do not walk to Taste of Asia. You’ll probably run into Mike and me.
Besides our tasty dishes, Taste of Asia serves diners a large variety of chicken, pork, beef, seafood and vegetable entrees, some of which include: steamed spare ribs with black bean sauce, pepper steak with onion, Szechuan chicken, honey walnut shrimp and vegetable delight. Taste of Asia also serves lunch specials for just $6.95, which is a real bargain in these inflationary times.
Mike and Sandi, this review was for you. Please come to visit us in Sweet Home Alabama more often. Love you bunches!
Taste of Asia is open on Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Taste of Asia makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!
Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear every other week in The Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com
