Greetings from Carrboro,
We try. But North Carolina doesn’t really get “festive.” It’s just not part of our social DNA. Most of our festivals are awash in the requisite homespun pottery, strawberry jam, and wood carvings of cute farm animals. And Raleigh’s annual nighttime shindig is to gather and watch a rather large man-made acorn slowly descend as a way to ring in the New Year. In an especially un-festive – but very North Carolina tradition – the aforementioned nut is ceremonially dropped well before midnight so kids can get to bed at a decent hour. Woohoo. And pass the Ovaltine.
Louisiana has none of those issues. Quite the opposite. For them, keeping the party at bay seems the greater issue. Hell, you can swing by any of a number of drive-thru daiquiri bars on your way to the grocery store in Lafayette and, voila, the vegetable aisle immediately takes on a distinctly festive air.
And then there’s Mardi Gras. When New Orleans actively wants to have a good time. Oh, boy. For the uninitiated, venturing into the mayhem on Bourbon St. during Mardi Gras should require the same trepidation as someone deciding to wander the streets of Pamplona in high heels during the Running of the Bulls. Survival is not at all a hard and fast guarantee.
So at Acme we do our best to translate Mardi Gras to a more classically Carrboro vibe. You know, still delicious but with a significantly reduced chance of waking up in a dumpster. Starting next Thursday, we’re diving into the glorious food of the deep south for two solid weeks. Gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, beignets, boudin, creole, and an oh-so-evil offspring of king cake and bread pudding. And we’ll have sazeracs, hurricanes, milk punch, and strawberry daiquiris so that you can turn up the party volume as you see fit. But maybe it’d be a good idea to warn your neighbors first.
The Acme Mardi Gras Staycation. It’s a festive party for two. With a soundtrack. And bling. You will, however, have to make your own parade float.
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 Mardi Gras Staycation Meal
Serves 2
$70
Maque Choux Beignets
Grilled corn, poblano, parmesan, remoulade
Crawfish Handpie
holy trinity, tabasco, tomato
Red Beans & Rice
andouille, duck confit, grilled filet mignon medallions
Acadian Gumbo
lobster, crab, shrimp, monkfish, fried okra
King Cake Bread Pudding
pecans, cream cheese, bourbon praline sauce
HOW TO ORDER:
1. Head to our online ordering page here
2. Select any date between Thurs, 2/12 and Sun, 2/14
3. Select your time.
4. Add your meal! Don’t forget your drinks.
5. We’ll see you NEXT week at pick up!