Greetings from Carrboro,

There weren’t many options. It basically came down to a very short list: cowboy, pirate, astronaut, or caveman. For Halloween my mother did not approve of the cool-kid superhero costumes with their plastic masks and flimsy capes or any get-up that was not strictly G-rated. Year over year, “wholesome” would have been the theme of the holiday. She went so far as to only give out shiny, red apples to the swarm of trick-or-treaters that ran house to house through our neighborhood. Needless to say, it was embarrassing.

I guess I could have gone as a chef. But that would have been a little too much foreshadowing. Though I’m sure that the ridicule from my friends would have been the same as my Roy Rogers costume with the ill-fitting cowboy hat that had seen considerably better decades. My mom even tried to coax me into saying, “trick or treat, pardner” at each door to guarantee my complete and utter humiliation.

But it really is fun to be something different  – or, well, cook something different – every once in a while. If only for a day. And next Thursday, November 6th, Acme gets to do just that as we don our wine dinner hat and welcome Cappie Peete from California’s acclaimed Matthiasson Wines to Carrboro for what we hope will be a spectacular evening of great food and wine. For those of you who’ve tasted their wines, I don’t need to say another word. But for the uninitiated, wow, you’re in for a treat. These are uncompromising wines made with a singular vision to express what is very best about the place the grapes are grown and the year that the wine is brought to life. This is two people doing what they love. And doing it very, very well. The jaw-dropping press that they’ve received over the years more than attests to that.

The four-course dinner will start at 6:30pm with doors opening at 6pm. And, yes, the kitchen will play our part with great fall dishes to showcase these truly spectacular wines. Tickets for the dinner are $75 (not including tax and gratuity). The menu is below. As always, all tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. We’d love for you to join us, pardner.

Not to be outdone, Atlas is also switching it up a bit with a Tequila Class on Sunday, November 9th, beginning at 2pm. Nate Windham, head bartender at Fitzgerald & Faulkner in Graham will join the Atlas team for an introduction to the wide world of tequila. We will discuss how it’s made, the differences between regions, the distinction between tequila and mezcal, and how to know what to buy for your home bar. In addition to tasting through a variety of expressions, Nate will be mixing tequila cocktails, demonstrating how this wild agave spirit can be integrated into delicious drinks. You will be greeted with a cup of welcome punch, and some delicious south of the border fare from the Acme kitchen. Tickets are $40 and space is limited.

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme