Greetings from Carrboro,
The sober portion of fall is over. Officially. Earnest pilgrims are replaced by reindeer with 100-watt noses. That also fly. And normally pragmatic folk sing songs about maids-a-milking and lords-a-leaping with full-throated gusto. I don’t know about you, but receiving a partridge in a pear tree as a gift would be rather awkward. Original, but still awkward. Just think of the thank you note “Wow, a tree AND a bird…” It’s really hard to imagine where to go with the rest of that little epistle.
But here we go. Again. The 2015 rendition. And have you noticed that in recent years penguins have joined the holiday tableau? Did we vote on this? And aren’t they from the South Pole? Oh, well. I do wonder what cuddly snow creature will be next. I feel that differentiating a blow-up walrus from a toothy, post-apocalyptic giant slug may keep them off of festive front yards for the foreseeable future. Just a thought.
Thank heavens the food part isn’t so fraught with tumult. Fudge is still fudge. And sitting at a table with people you love will never go out of style. At least in our book. In the kitchen, the rhythms of December take hold. Stocks simmer overnight. Meats are braised and smoked. Bowls of fish chowder with crusty bread are a favorite lunch. The raw oysters taste like the sea. And bitter greens, rutabagas, and winter squash take center stage.
This year at Acme, we started our celebration a bit early. On Saturday, November 21st, our general manager, Stephen Murtaugh, his wife, Emily, and daughter Amelia welcomed baby Ellie into this wide and wonderful world. Really, is there anything more magical? Life unfolds. And there is more love now than there was before. That, surely, is not a small thing.
And, so, December is here. That freewheeling express train of a month that eventually dumps you into January and the new year. Completely exhausted and over fa-la-laed. But it is a fun ride. And around here, it’s pretty damn delicious. To that end, Acme will be open on Christmas Eve starting at 5pm. Reservations for the 24th are only available by calling the restaurant (919 929 2263). We will also be open on New Year’s Day for a special Good Luck Brunch from 11 until 2. This southern tradition is a good thing. Because who doesn’t want to be lucky, healthy, and rich in 2016?
There are also a few seats left (8 at last count) for our Cheese Monger’s Dinner tomorrow night. It’s a three-course meal featuring the delicious cheeses of Chapel Hill Creamery and their equally yummy pork and beef. Seats are $40 per person. Reservations are required. It’s a great way to start December on the right foot.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.
Cheers,
The Staff at Acme