Greetings from Carrboro,

The Uber driver was concerned. The streets were tearing up her minivan and the people, well, the people were crazy. She’d only been in New Orleans for a month. This had to have been either October or November. And the minivan was recently outfitted with a plexiglass shield that isolated her from her passengers. “Because a couple got in my damn car with a giant snake over their shoulders! A snake! Who does that?” I offered her some solace by acknowledging that at least she was somewhat prepared for Mardi Gras now. “What,” she innocently asked, “is Mardi Gras?”

That’s a mighty big question that I certainly didn’t have the bonafides to answer. Beyond the obvious. My only family memory is that my older brother went to Fat Tuesday in New Orleans when he was in college and came back with a hurricane glass from Pat O’Brien’s and some purple glow-in-the-dark underwear. So not exactly a legacy steeped in tradition.

Though, had she asked me about the food, I could have held my own. Because no matter where you’re from in the South, you probably get the food of New Orleans. It just makes sense. Admittedly they have much better names for everything than the rest of us. Gumbo, jambalaya, boudin, po’boys, fricassee, etouffée, beignets, King Cake, pain perdu. All that just sounds delicious, right? And for the past 15 years, Acme has brought our take on Mardi Gras to Carrboro. In all its lip-smacking glory. And 2024 is no different.

It’s basically a party with really, really good food. There will be a gazillion beads and masks, the right music, and plenty of hot sauce. And, oh yes, the bar will have all the Big Easy classics – from Sazeracs to milk punch to Ramos Gin Fizz. This year Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 13th. Acme will be open starting at 5pm with reservations available all night long. Some people come seriously dressed for the occasion. And dancing has broken out in the bar more than a few times. It is Fat Tuesday after all. So, as they say laissez les bons temps rouler. Just leave the snake at home. Please.

This weekend at Acme, our seafood collaboration with Salvador from Tom Robinson’s Seafood is red drum and red snapper fresh from the NC coast. Really beautiful fish that tastes even better than it looks. It’s a good way to celebrate surviving January.

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme