Greetings from Carrboro,
There’s got to be some merry app for the Advent Calendar. Some dose of digital optimism promising a carefree holiday with lots of playful elf emojis and to-do lists and jolly reminders to check it twice. As if December could be wrapped so neatly. As if the Christmas snowball that starts rolling down the holiday hill could actually remain the same size all month and not get larger and pick up speed.
A woman I know got a pot-bellied piglet as a pet when that was in fashion. It was cute. But she seemingly didn’t pay attention to the “-let” attached to her pet. About eight months later she had to call animal control while standing on her dining room table. Her little snookums was now over 125 lbs, circling the table, and ferociously hungry – the emphasis being on the ferocious part. Ahh, the best-laid plans of mice and elves.
There’s just a lot to do this time of year. And at times it can be overwhelming. It might not scarily chase you around the house trying to get food, but still overwhelming. However, it can also be pretty fantastic. And delicious. And fun. That’s our job. And if our team can make your holiday just a smidge better, we couldn’t be happier.
So, we thought a calendar of what’s in store for the rest of December would be a good idea. For you and for us. All of December’s presents don’t have to be under a tree.
December 10th to 23rd – Acme’s 12 Days of Gift-mas. For the twelve days leading up to Christmas, we will be gifting one lucky guest per night with a special holiday present from Acme. Simply make a reservation for dinner any night we are open from the 10th to the 23rd, and your name will be added to the drawing. The winner will be selected before the start of dinner service each night.
December 17th, 4pm – Our second cocktail class of the year at Atlas. Learn the history and various incarnations of the Manhattan and, importantly, how to make them yourselves. There will be seasonal snacks provided by Acme while you imbibe winter’s most popular concoctions.
December 20th & 21st – Two nights of prime rib. The Christmas classic in all its glory is back by popular demand. Mashed potatoes. Asparagus. Horseradish cream. The works. Add some oysters on the half-shell and you might break out in song (just not Jingle Bell Rock. Please). Of course we will also have all of our regular menu items on those nights for anyone preferring a different meal as we celebrate the solstice. There will be only a limited number for each night so reservations are a must.
December 24th, Christmas Eve, 2pm – 4pm – Pick up for our Christmas Day Feast To-Go. Menu is below. Take cooking off of your Christmas day list. And add a lot of stress-free relaxation. The feast for two is $90. Deadline for ordering is Thursday, December 21st. Why not give yourself a gift this year?
December 31st – New Year’s Eve dinner at the restaurant. And a New Year’s Eve party at Atlas. You can enjoy one. Or, you know, both. It’s always a smart plan to end the year on a good note.
January 1st, New Year’s Day, 11am – 2pm – New Year’s Day Brunch at Acme. It’s an old southern tradition that we are 100% behind — collard greens for wealth, black-eyed peas for luck, and smoked pork for health. It’s a damn delicious start to the new year. There will be plenty of our usual brunch menu items available as well. Reservations are heartily recommended. The Rose Bowl parade can wait. Yes, don’t worry. You can order extra collards.
All month long, you can order takeout from the restaurant through our website and get 25% off by using the code HOLIDAY25 when you check out. And our Monday Funday special will continue unabated into 2024. Every entree, every Monday, $15. That’s enough to even make Scrooge smile. You know who I’m talking about.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.
Cheers,
The Staff at Acme
Serves 2 hungry souls
The Noshing Part
Mushroom Paté
Carolina Shrimp Cocktail
Cheese Crackers
Deviled Ham & Deviled Eggs
The Big Decision
Grilled Beef Filet
green peppercorn gastrique
or
Seared Scottish Salmon
lemon & caper beurre blanc
The Sides
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Bourbon-glazed Rainbow Carrots
The When-You-Wake-Up Part
Almond & Brown Sugar Coffee Cake