12/6

Greetings from Carrboro,

It really doesn’t make any sense. At all. Look at the rest of the world. France has Champagne and crémant. Spain has cava. And Italy has prosecco. Sounds lovely, right? And classy. Festive, even. So what did the great American marketing machine contrive for our bubbly drinking pleasure? Cold Duck. Try ordering that in a restaurant with a straight face.

Well, it was the ‘70s. And putting Cold Duck into context with “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters” and soap-on-a-rope, I guess the name makes a little more sense. But still. What wine with bubbles and a frigid waterfowl have in common is anyone’s guess. I assume that “Hot Partridge” and “Tepid Emu” were taken. Probably as frozen drinks in a fern bar. Or cuts on a Deep Purple record. The name does, however, allow a diner to order two different things with the same epithet. “I’ll have the cold duck with the cold duck, please.” But that’s really about it. The merits sort of fall off rather precipitously after that.

Our Cold Duck conundrum? What exactly do we call a holiday-rific dinner featuring some of the best sparkling wine from all over the world? Paired with perfect wintertime seafood? Right here in Carrboro? A Bubbly Bonanza? A Fête of Fizz? A… OK. Screw it. We’ll just call it Flat-Out Delicious. How does that sound?

The Acme Holiday Bubbly Bash. Monday, December 19^th. $70 per person. Reservations are required (919 929 2263). We’ll get started at 6:30. We expect the dinner to sell out. Menu is below. Nothing says happy holidays quite like Acme. Start winter right. And bring someone you love.

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

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme

The Acme Holiday Bubbly Bash

Sunday, December 18^th   6:30 in the Evening

1^st

Fried Carolina Shrimp

Ginger, Grapefruit, Cucumber, Cilantro

2009 Von Buhl Sekt

2^nd

Pan Seared Scallops

Curried Parsnips, Mango

Bortolomiol Filanda Rosé

3^rd

Porcini Crusted Halibut

Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Fennel

2007 Argyle Brut

4^th

Yellowfin Tuna

Edamame Purée, Sesame Glaze, Pineapple

Champagne Deutz Brut Classic

5^th

Maine Lobster Pot Pie

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée