Stacey Wallace

Stacey Wallace

Columnist

Stacey is a writer for The Observer

Stacey Wallace's Latest

Making the Grade | Dec. 12, 2024

Making the Grade | Dec. 12, 2024

Sam's Southern Eatery OPINION — Have you noticed that as you get older, your tolerance for certain foods changes? For example, when I was a teenager, I could eat pizza at midnight, not even burp and then sleep like a baby.However, 20 years ago, my...

Read More
Making the Grade | Nov. 27, 2024

Making the Grade | Nov. 27, 2024

One-Forty Grill OPINION — Way back in 1989 when dinosaurs roamed the planet, and I was 27 years old (but not until December), all of my female friends were married. I was not.By the time I reached my mid-30s, I started boycotting weddings unless I...

Read More
Making the Grade | Nov. 14, 2024

Making the Grade | Nov. 14, 2024

Dadeville's Grand Bakery OPINION — As I’ve mentioned before in this column, when I attended Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), Dadeville High School was a big rival of ours.Alex City is in West Tallapoosa...

Read More
Making the Grade | Oct. 31, 2024

Making the Grade | Oct. 31, 2024

El Jefe Mexican Restaurant & Grill OPINION — What was your favorite age to be? When you’re young, you want to be older; when you’re older, you want to be younger.Well, I’m 61, and I’m happy to be my age; I have no desire to be any other age....

Read More
Making the Grade | Oct. 17, 2024

Making the Grade | Oct. 17, 2024

The Hornet's Nest OPINION — On Nov. 23, Mike and I will have lived in Lee County for nine years. These years have flown by, and we have fallen in love with our home county. In fact, if I listed everyone and everything that I loved about our home,...

Read More
Making the Grade | Oct. 3, 2024

Making the Grade | Oct. 3, 2024

The reopening of Country's Barbecue OPINION — In September of 1983, I transferred from Alexander City State Junior College to Auburn University for my junior year. Even though I was only 38.8 miles (My sweet husband Mike Googled it.) from my home...

Read More
Making the Grade

Making the Grade

At home with Chef Jim OPINION — As I have mentioned numerous times in this column, I love to eat, but I really dislike cooking.My attitude about cooking is: What if I spent hours cooking a meal and then dropped dead at the end of that day? I would...

Read More
Making the Grade | Sept. 5, 2024

Making the Grade | Sept. 5, 2024

Yaki Bowl OPINION — As Mike and I have entered our fifth year of retirement, how we look at the week has certainly changed. For example, when we taught at Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, Mondays were tough because we were coming off...

Read More
Making the Grade | Aug. 8, 2024

Making the Grade | Aug. 8, 2024

Hey Days Way back in 1983-1985, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, I was a Juco transfer at Auburn University. During this time, Auburn certainly didn’t have the number of restaurants that exist today.In my junior and senior years at the Loveliest...

Read More
Making the Grade

Making the Grade

Melt Auburn OPINION — Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Boy, my husband Mike and I pulled a doozy a few weeks ago.We traveled to Willow Point Country Club in my hometown of Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals). There,...

Read More
Making the Grade | June 27, 2024

Making the Grade | June 27, 2024

On the road to Dadeville OPINION — When I was growing up in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), there was a big rivalry between our city and Dadeville; our cities were and still are, separated by the Tallapoosa River Bridge.Unfortunately,...

Read More
Making the Grade

Making the Grade

Alabama Fried Chicken & Fish OPINION — Last month, Mike and I went on our dream vacation: We spent two weeks in Scotland, the land of our ancestors. Mike is a Wallace (you can’t be more Scottish than that) and my sweet Mama was a McEachern; we...

Read More
Making the Grade

Making the Grade

Bunkers OPINION — Way back when I was 18-20 years old, I was mildly addicted to video games such as Galaga (my personal favorite), Ms. Pac Man and Dig Dug.I used to go to my bank’s drive through, where I would cash a three-to-five-dollar check....

Read More
Making the Grade | May 16, 2024

Making the Grade | May 16, 2024

Tiger on the Green OPINION — Do you enjoy playing golf? Now, that probably sounds like a strange introductory question for a restaurant review column; however, it will make sense in a few paragraphs.My husband Mike and I admire the physical...

Read More
On the road to SpringHouse in Alex City

On the road to SpringHouse in Alex City

OPINION — Back when I was growing up in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), there was no special, elegant restaurant at which to dine. We mainly had fast food establishments, and my friends and I frequented Hardee’s, Pizza Hut and Sonic.In...

Read More
Lunch is served: The Grille at Botanic

Lunch is served: The Grille at Botanic

BY STACEY WALLACE OPINION — If you are like most people, you have a number of restaurants where you regularly dine. Since Mike and I moved to Auburn in November 2015, we have enjoyed a variety of great restaurants.One restaurant in Opelika, The...

Read More
Taste test hosted by Lee County Schools

Taste test hosted by Lee County Schools

BY STACEY WALLACE OPINION — What do you remember about the food served in your high school lunchroom? Was the food good, or did it include mystery meat and surprise casserole?Back in 1978-1981, my good friends Amelia, Leigh Ann and I attended...

Read More
Sabor a Mexico Mexican Grill

Sabor a Mexico Mexican Grill

OPINION — Back in 1990, when I was a first year English teacher in LaGrange, Georgia, money was tight, to say the least. After paying my rent, car payment, utilities, groceries, gas, etc., my wallet echoed.My sweet parents helped me out a lot, and...

Read More
On the road to Alex City: Wharf Casual Seafood

On the road to Alex City: Wharf Casual Seafood

OPINION — As I’ve mentioned many times in this column, Lee County has many wonderful restaurants to enjoy. I’m grateful for this, not only because my husband Mike and I love to eat out; the large number of restaurants has allowed me to write my...

Read More
Making the Grade | Corner Office

Making the Grade | Corner Office

OPINION — Early August 2019. My husband Mike and I got up at about 4:15 a.m. central time, and we had a little spring in our steps despite the incredibly early hour. Why? Because it was the first pre-planning day of our 30th year of teaching, our...

Read More