Greetings from Carrboro,
I have a certain professional empathy for Joey Chestnut. Setting the world record for hot dog eating obviously has its rewards; the guy’s plenty famous. But still. While eating 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes might get you on ESPN, it also means that you, well, just ate 83 hot dogs. And that has to have, um, consequences.
So as Acme prepares to celebrate 27 years in Carrboro, I have to digest the fact that we’ve been doing this for 27 years. The vast majority of restaurants don’t last that many months – much less years – so on some level I have to feel a certain amount of luck; more than a quarter century is not a trivial period of time. But it’s sorta like a childhood friend who’s survived being struck by lightning twice. His family likes to spin this as him leading an undoubtedly charmed life. The rest of us kinda want to point out that being struck by lightning once sort of excludes anyone from a club where luck is the sole basis of admittance. Much less being struck twice.
But by and large, I’d say that luck is overblown. Or, at least misappropriated. I know people often say that they’d rather be lucky than good. And that’s fine. And, sure, it’s true that you could say that Acme has been incredibly lucky to have had such fantastic people work at the restaurant over the years and so many equally wonderful people who’ve eaten here. But after swimming in this restaurant world for all these years, I know that with time any notion of luck necessarily transforms into something richer – gratitude – just as grapes mature into wine.
Because it isn’t luck that sauteed the salmon or scrubbed the pot or served the guests night after night, year after year. And luck certainly didn’t walk in the door or sit at the bar or order mac & cheese for their kid. It was people. Always. This community that now stretches coast to coast who have made Acme what it is today. Somehow luck just doesn’t make room for all of that humanity and perseverance. All that life.
So as we begin to chart our 28th year in Carrboro, please know that I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you. Near and far. The restaurant business isn’t easy. Far from it. But the camaraderie and customers make up for all the blood, sweat, and tears. No question about it.
To celebrate this milestone, Acme will be handing out birthday cake to everyone who dines with us on Wednesday, February 19th along with celebratory 27¢ glasses of bubbly. Sorry, Joey. No hotdogs. I hope that you can join us.
And continuing the birthday theme, throughout the month of February, Acme will be giving out oh-so delicious birthday cakes to guests who join us to celebrate their birthday with a group of 6 or more. All we require is for you to provide at least 48 hours notice and we’ll do the rest. Except sing. You really don’t want us to sing.
The Acme Valentine’s Day Feast To-Go. Pick up is on the 14th between 12pm-2pm. The price for the dinner for 2 is $95. The menu is below. It’s going to be delicious. All you have to provide is the soundtrack.
This weekend @ Acme: Overnight beef short rib stroganoff. Pan-seared striped sea bass. Shooting Point oysters on the half-shell. Roasted winter carrots. Martha’s Mississippi-style tamales. Blackened salmon. Piña colada tres leches cake. Acme wedge salad. Really old-fashioneds. Diver scallops. Smoked pork ribs and fried Carolina shrimp. Acme cornbread. Tomato Pie. Raul’s gumbo. Fried flounder. Wintertime risotto. Martinis. Acme smashburgers. Weekends are better here.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.
Cheers,
The Staff at Acme