5/3

Greetings from Carrboro,

My brother taught me how to drink Mexican beer. 1) Squeeze the lime into the beer. 2) Push the squeezed lime into the bottle. And, for the fancy part 3) Fit your forefinger snugly into the bottle and invert. Now, when he did it, the lime floated to the bottom of bottle. He turned it back over, took out his finger, and took a sip. Easy. My attempt went really, really well right up until I turned the bottle over. 

Can I just say that beer under pressure can be quite impressive. The ensuing torrent of Sol missed my face by mere inches. Not so much the woman sitting at the next table. Or her two-year-old. As a piece of advice, it is a really good plan to never attempt cleaning a stranger’s child. With your paper napkin. That still has a fork wrapped in it.

So, needless to say, I order margaritas at Mexican restaurants. Less traumatic. And decidedly more delicious. As far as I’m concerned, Cinco de Mayo is just an elaborate excuse for us to make nearly perfect, two-handed strawberry margaritas. And for you to drink them. Happily. And since Cinco de Mayo is this Sunday, I figured that we might as well make lamb tacos. And empanadas. And guacamole and tres leches cake and chilaquiles and enchiladas molé. Yum. Food with soul. The other Sol you’ll have to drink at home. Carefully.

Acme Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Sunday, May 5th. Brunch and dinner. Putting some extra South in South of the Border. Hablas Espanol, ya’ll?

Soft shell crabs. Braised lamb tacos. Grilled local ribeye. Salmon and tuna tartare. Shooting Point oysters on the half shell. Farmers’ market salad. Pan-seared scallops. Strawberry jam cake. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Carolina clam stew. Crab cakes. Cast-iron skillet cornbread. Forever roasted pig. Butterscotch pudding. Acme cheeseburgers. Chile rellenos. Weekends are better at Acme.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

Spring is the only season – legally speaking – when people can actually frolic. In some states, floppy-eared puppies, fields of wildflowers, and arms-extended twirling are required. Luckily for us, Proposition 33 never got through committee in Raleigh. Whew. So, we get another year of unrestrained frolicking! Admittedly however, there are some safety concerns around doing it by yourself or near power lines. At Acme, our official stance is that we recommend you frolic publicly – but sitting down. Preferably in a restaurant. OK, preferably here.

The food on our spring menu should help. Delicious, unrestrained dishes. No deep, brooding cuisine for overly contemplative sorts. No way. That’s like trying to read Moby Dick at a Van Halen concert. With a lighter. You with me?

So, get your frolic on. Spring is here.

photo credit: Heba Salama 

4/25

Greetings from Carrboro,

A guy came in the other day trying to sell us tomatoes. Claimed that he grew them. Locally. Now, if you’re going to lie to us about farming, at least pull up in an old pickup and not a 1998 Chrysler Le Barron. And don’t wear a jaunty blue camo t-shirt with the thoughtful proclamation “If it flies, it dies.” No. This does not invite trust. At all. Then, lastly, have a slightly better back story than “I started the plants in little pots inside my house and now they’re big.” This is not a winning strategy. The way that we figured it, Food Lion Farms must have had a sale. And while it was awful nice of him to think of us, we passed on the offer. The guy was truly shocked. Who knows? Maybe locavore scams are going to be the Greek yogurt of 2013. 

OK, I get the fact that restaurant folk may not be the sharpest demographic. But give us some credit – we do know what season it is. And, hello, it’s not tomato season, fella. Not yet. To be honest, that’s fine with us. Because, let me tell you, we sweat a lot more during tomato season – a LOT more. And, anyway, we got word today about what is in season. Finally. Soft shell crabs. I swear. Honest injun. They’re back. And for all of us in their rabid fan club, nothing is better than perfect soft shell crabs. Especially the first ones of the year. Hell, I get all drooly just thinking about it. Unless the pickup from Core Sound Seafood breaks down on its way to us today, soft shells will be on our menu tonight. But we could only get so many. Needless to say, they will go fast…

Soft shell crabs. Grilled local ribeye. Tuna & beet tartare. Pecan crusted fried chicken. Braised spring lamb with housemade bourbon-mint jelly. Strawberry jam cake. Farmers’ market salad. Shrimp chilé relleno. Carolina clam and bay scallop stew. Pan seared salmon. Forever roasted pig. Key lime pie. Carrot & ginger soup. Mahi mahi. Chicken liver paté. Fried oysters. Black pepper and ricotta cheesecake. Cheeseburgers & Fries. At Acme, delicious is always in season.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

4/19

Greetings from Carrboro,

You know when Brody, Roy Scheider’s character in Jaws, says, “You’re going to need a bigger boat”? Well, you could say the same thing about Mother’s Day. It’s no longer just a card with puppies and a festive spray of carnations. No sir. And don’t even think about an electric can opener or a George Foreman Grill. That, my friend, is flirting with disaster. 

And, on that instructive note, do not ever – ever – speak of Mother’s Day gifts at any sort of gathering. You will look bad. BAD. Because, this will happen. Mark my words. A lovely woman will then bring up how cute it was for her husband to have her parakeet, Sparkles, give her a cruise for Mother’s Day. To Bora Bora. And, let me tell you, the whole I-see-your-Homedics-foot-bath-massager-and-raise-you-a-cruise-from-a-bird is not a conversation that you want to find yourself in. Especially if the recipient of said Homedics Foot Bath Massager (With Swirling Action!) is in earshot. Are we clear?

Luckily, Acme has your back. Or that bigger boat, if you will. Because for those of you who haven’t lived here long enough, Carolina and Duke have this tendency to PLOP graduation right on top of Mom’s Big Day. Wham-o. And those pesky graduates have been making reservations for months. Months, I tell you. And that’s not such a good thing for folks who live locally and want to take Mom out to eat. So, because we can’t move graduation, Acme has moved Mother’s Day. Again.

The Acme Fourth Annual Dynamic-Creative-Intelligent-Beautiful-Women-Who-Also-Happen-To-Be-Mothers’ Day. It’s on Wednesday. May 8th. And true to form, all moms’ entrees are on us. Yes, you read that right. Free. Nada. Gratis. Zilch. There are Hallmark holidays and Acme holidays. One has misty photographs of daisies and the other has soft shell crabs. You decide.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

4/11

Greetings from Carrboro,

Going to the farmers’ market can be tricky. For me, that is. It’s like the old rule to never go shopping when you’re hungry. There should be one for chefs that says don’t go to the market when you’re feeling giddily optimistic. And how can you not feel that way in spring? I mean, c’mon. So, we traipse back from the market with our body weight in an array of green leafy vegetables and radishes. Because that’s what all those hip and attractive locavores craves this time of year, right? And everybody is just gonna love what we do with that 38 lbs of totsoi! Viva Farm to Table! Viva Acme!

OK. So, needless to say, this little springtime tale doesn’t end too well. Ever. Optimism is often best left tied to the roof of the car. And gagged. But don’t try and tell me that you’ve never bought, let’s say, turnip greens at the store only to throw them away the following week after they’ve wildly changed color and migrated to the back of the fridge. It happens to all of us. The whole road to hell being paved with good intentions and all that. Personally, our house is where bananas go to die. All of them. If you ever wondered.

But there are things that never go to waste. And I mean never. Today is the first delivery of our springtime Core Sound Seafood CSF (community supported fishery) share. And Acme is the only restaurant in the state that does this. Every week we get 40 lbs of the freshest seafood from a cooperative of boats at the NC coast. And we cook what they catch. Simple. And delicious. Totsoi on the side. 

And next Thursday, Acme is teaming up with Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours and Chapel Hill Creamery to offer a literal farm to table experience. Starting at Chapel Hill Creamery, people will get a tour of the farm followed by a four-course meal @ Acme where each course will feature Chapel Hill Creamery’s wonderful cheeses. It’s going to be quite a night. Visit the Taste Carolina website if you’re feeling hungry and want to sign up. Or just want to see what it’s all about. Space is very limited. http://tastecarolina.net/files/private-events.php

Pan-seared Carolina flounder. Grilled local ribeye (Circle D Farm). Butterscotch pudding. Shooting Point oysters. Grilled striped sea bass. Forever roasted pig. Acme market salad. Mint-chocolate chip ice cream. Braised spring lamb. Conch fritters. Shrimp chile relleno. Outer Banks scallops. Chatham county guinea hen. Chocolate-pecan pie. Cheeseburgers & fries. Get your spring on.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

The New York Times, “Carolina’s Expansive Wine List,” (Eric Asimov’s The Pour) April 1, 2013

Chapel Hill Magazine,“Thanksgiving Alternatives,” November 2011

Garden & Gun, “The Guide to the Sides,” October/November 2011

Esquire, “Eat Like a Man: Country Pot Roast,” September 2011

Chapel Hill Magazine, “Morning Glory: Best Brunch Spot in Orange County” and “Indulge Some More (Web Extra),” September/October 2011

Winner, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2011, Best Sunday Brunch in Orange/Chatham County
Finalist, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2011, Best Bloody Mary; Best Burger in Orange/Chatham County; Best Wait staff in Orange/Chatham County

Garden & Gun, “Slices of Heaven,” June/July 2010

Finalist, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2010, Best Bloody Mary; Best Burger in Orange/Chatham County; Best Chef in Orange/Chatham County

Finalist, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2009, Best Wait Staff in Orange/Chatham County; Best Sunday Brunch

Finalist, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2008, Best Burger in Orange/Chatham County; Best Bloody Mary

Finalist, Independent Weekly Best of the Triangle 2007, Best Bloody Mary

Bon Appetit, “Great Neighborhood Restaurants,” September 2002

Southern Living Magazine, “Top Ten Tastes of 1999” (December)

Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day,” “Merry Christmas,” “Thanks for Pet Sitting,” “Congratulations & Best Wishes,” or “Happy Teacher Appreciation Week” quite like a gift certificate from Acme. Available in any amount, always delicious, and always appreciated. Call 919 929 2263 or fill out the form below.

Photo credit: Heba Salama

Purchase a gift certificate:

3/22

Greetings from Carrboro,

The first month that I worked in a restaurant, I watched a man eat an entire salad with his fingers. In public. He explained to his well-coifed companion that the French ate salads with their hands. By French, I knew he meant cosmopolitan, refined. And I bought it, even if his date did not. At 21, plausibility was the least of my concerns. I mean, the guy was drinking bottled water and French wine and had especially fancy shoes. And, that most elusive thing, a date.

So, I practiced in my apartment. In private. Surely, nonchalance was the key. I assumed that people with class would recognize my worldliness. “Oooh, a hand salad eater!” This, sadly, was my plan. It was the 80′s, so give me a break. You see, salad eating as art was new to me. Brand new. And my entrenched affinity for Thousand Island made the whole process more than a tad messy. It also, blessedly, kept my little act from any humiliating public debut.

Until then, my notion of a salad had limitations. Southerners cook their greens. And salads had absolutely nothing to do with being cool. In fact, the only salads in my mother’s repertoire that evoked any real passion made their most notable appearance at Easter. Or just after. And no, they did not require Jell-O, celery, or canned pears. Or lettuce for that matter. I’m speaking of ham salad and egg salad. Admittedly, the term salad is used rather loosely here. The egg salad was always festively colored by the dye used for making Easter eggs. And the ham salad was made with whatever was left over from Easter supper. Add squishy-white bread. Some red onion. Oh. My. That was my idea of the perfect salad. Not terribly French, I know. But I did eat it with both hands. Ooh la la.

Easter Brunch at Acme. Salads completely optional. Completely. Fork? Not so much.

Tonight: Stuffed local guinea hen. Shooting Point Oysters on the half-shell. Grilled local ribeye. Butterscotch Pudding. Outer Banks monkfish lasagna. Fresh pea and mint soup. Flash fried calamari. Forever roasted pig. Pan-seared scallops. Lobster and fennel hand pies. Braised lamb empanadas. Acme cornbread with black pepper and honey butter. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Wild game pasta. Strawberry shortcake. And basketball. We are a seasonal restaurant after all.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

3/16

Greetings from Carrboro,

I’m Irish. Well, in name at least. No question. Hell, Patrick is my middle name. But that’s sort of where my Emerald Isle lineage begins and ends. Anything in my father resembling Irish-ness disappeared altogether when he drove across the Mason-Dixon line with my mother in 1957. Including his lifelong, altar boy Catholicism. The South tends to do that. He gave her an Irish name. But she gave him roots.

You see, my mother’s family has been in the South forever. Daughters of the Confederacy. Daughters of the American Revolution. Colonial Dames. The whole shebang. The small-town Carolinas are her people. No doubt. And mine, too. But all that history gets a little messy when you look at it too closely, if you know what I mean. And growing up in the ’70s, being Irish sounded classy – they had castles! And leprechauns! And they didn’t have the Klan. So, I’m Irish. Ta da. 

But at the dinner table, none of that stuff mattered. In spirit, the food of the country South and the Ol’ Sod aren’t that far apart. At all. Just substitute sweet tea for beer, and oscillating fans for the peat fire and you get pretty close. Then talk for hours and save room for dessert. 

Amen.

Acme’s St. Patrick’s Day feast. Saturday and Sunday night, the 16th and 17th. Corned beef and cabbage. Irish lamb stew. Bangers and mash. Smoked salmon. Colcannon. Lobster hand pies. Strawberry shortcake. Guinness and whiskey and sweet tea. Erin go bragh, y’all.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

reservations online or 919 929 2263

Since 1998, Acme Food & Beverage Company has been serving damn good food, signature cocktails, fine wines, and craft beers in the heart of historic downtown Carrboro. Chef/Owner Kevin Callaghan draws inspiration from the seasonal rhythms and flavors of his childhood and uses fresh local ingredients to create Southern American dishes in a fine dining setting. Dinner is offered seven nights a week, as well as brunch on Sunday. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Photo credit: Heba Salama