She wrote a rather nasty note the next day. It was her contention that the restaurant had let her down. She’d brought special, out-of-town guests for dinner and we didn’t have Chilean Sea Bass on the menu. As if we’d ever had Chilean Sea Bass on the menu. The server was dumbfounded as the woman confidently insisted to have something that clearly wasn’t available. After several are-you-sure retreats by the server into the kitchen, she allowed that halibut would be acceptable. Which was also not on the menu. In the end, I think they had steaks.
It wasn’t that long ago that there were just a handful of acceptable fish in the restaurant pantheon. And trotting out anything else was risky. The first time we ever served catfish, a table got up and left. Slowly but surely, however, things have changed. For all sorts of reasons. The bias that ruled restaurant kitchens and menus has certainly receded. And the notion that fresh and local trumps name recognition has clearly taken root in the dining room.
Thank god. Otherwise we couldn’t be serving the glorious black drum that Salvador from Tom Robinson’s Seafood drove up from the coast this morning. And you wouldn’t get the chance to have such fantastic fresh fish all weekend long. With zucchini & corn cakes, griddled beefsteak tomatoes, and avocado cream. Summertime should be delicious. And I have a feeling that your special, out-of-town guests will be thrilled.
This weekend @ Acme: Pan-seared black drum. Acme tomato plate. Cowboy steaks. Ice-cold martinis. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Okra & peppers. Smoked fish dip. Corn “ribs.” Acme wedge salad. Southern tomato pie. Grilled pork tenderloin. Flash-fried flounder. Three-bean salad. Blackened salmon. Peach & blueberry cobbler with blackberry ice cream. Acme cornbread. Brussels’ sprouts. Forever roasted pig. BLT bento box. Southern succotash. Hushpuppies. Oodles of chilled wine. Acme smash burgers. But no Chilean Sea Bass. Sorry.
There are still about a dozen seats left for the second helping of our Tuesday Supper Club: The Tomato Takeover. The dinner is Tuesday, July 23rd. Tickets are $45. We will get started at 6:30 with doors at 6:00. Menu is below. The first incarnation was delicious. Can’t imagine that round two will be any different.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.
Cheers,
The Staff at Acme