Greetings from Carrboro,
It’s an impossible question. But I learned when my daughters were young that if you’re asked what is your favorite – color, ice cream, movie – it’s best not to equivocate. The derision in both their eyes when I first trotted out “rainbow” as my favorite color was palpable. Ultimately, purple became my go-to response as it carefully straddled the pink/blue divide without aligning with either side of their sibling debate.
So, when a guest asks me what’s my favorite thing on the menu, I know that I have to answer. Traditionally, my best strategy is to couch any response with a time/date stamp (well, tonight I’d order…) so as to not preclude anything on the menu. But sometimes I really do have a favorite. And I can guarantee that anytime we have fresh-off-the-boat tuna, that will be the de facto, no-doubt-about-it winner. Every time. Unwrapping the deep-red loins that Salvador walks over to us from Tom Robinson’s Seafood always feels like Christmas.
Add to that a bounty of local produce and, well, it doesn’t get a whole lot better. Not surprisingly, the French got there first and basically we’re doing our version of the Provençal classic, tuna Niçoise. Fingerling potatoes, Romano beans, cherry tomatoes, olives, pickled red onions, hard boiled eggs, avocado and pan-seared yellowfin tuna with a dab of basil pesto. It really is the best of so many worlds. I guess Carrboro is the Paris of the Piedmont, after all.
There’s a lot going on over the next 10 days. A lot. To recap:
- Sunday, June 9th, 4pm. Cocktail Class at Atlas. Dive into the family of cocktails that grow from the daiquiri, all essentials for the summertime mixologist in you. Taste the original and a few of the variants to understand the science behind the magic. Snacks will be provided and each participant gets to take home the accompanying cocktail glass.
- Tuesday, June 11th, 6:30pm. The Acme Tuesday Supper Club. There are still a few seats left for the four-course meal featuring the best of local produce and all the flavors of this time of year. Menu is below. Tuesdays don’t get much better.
- Sunday, June 16th. Father’s Day Brunch. Dad’s big day cometh. And at Acme we have a pretty good idea about how to put a smile on his face. No gift-wrapping required.
This weekend @ Acme: Nearly perfect tuna Niçoise. Acme tomato plate. Grilled pork tenderloin with corn pudding. Blueberry cobbler. Watermelon margaritas. Prime NY strip steaks. Acme cornbread. Southern tomato pie. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Shooting Point oysters. Succotash. Angel biscuits. Acme smash burgers. Watermelon salad. Forever roasted pig. Peel & eat Carolina shrimp. Brussels’ sprouts. Fried oyster po’boy sliders. Acme wedge salad. Blackened salmon. Ice cold martinis. Honey pie. Flash-fried flounder. Jump in; the water’s fine.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.
Cheers,
The Staff at Acme
Tuesday Supper Club
June 11th, 2024
6:30 in the evening
1st
Family-Style Summer Salads
watermelon, feta, red onion, mint
farm tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pesto
True three-bean salad, oregano, parmesan
2nd
Cold Seared Salmon
summer squash, tapenade
3rd
Seared Pork Tenderloin
corn pudding, pickled peach
4th
Lemon Pudding Cake
fresh blueberry & blackberry compote
