Greetings from Carrboro,

I think gift bags added five years to my life. Though, admittedly, I do have serious issues making the all-important tissue paper look, well, right. It’s the crinkling part. By and large, if you stare at any one of my gift bags for more than a few seconds it looks more like an overflowing trash can than a present – albeit a rather festive and seasonally themed trash can. Regardless, the miracle bags effectively eliminated my annual holiday diorama of bourbon, scissors, scotch tape, and a clock that said 4am.

So to all the holiday challenged out there, I get you. The neighborhood party eluders. The Jingle Bell Rock cringers. The mall avoiders. The definitely-maybe-next year I’ll get to it-Christmas card writers. Even the incurable sparkly Santa sweater wearers. All of you. Trust me; we can do this. It’s going to be a great holiday. And easy, too.

Here’s how: for my part, I’ve played the one solid holiday card I have – I cooked. I spent last week making the most delicious spiced mountain apple butter. The kind that’s best on a hot biscuit with almost melted butter. Yea, that one. Then I put the apple butter up in jars for the holiday. Yum.

And your part? Well, with each and every gift certificate over $50 that you buy at Acme during the holiday, we’re throwing in a jar of apple butter and my best biscuit recipe. Quite the trifecta. And, yes, all of it in an adorable & oh-so festive goodie bag to make that gifting-thing that much better. See? Easy and delicious and thoughtful. Exactly what the holidays should be, if I do say so myself. Tissue paper, however, is all you. (Gift certificates are certainly available through our website as well. Sadly though, apple butter can’t be downloaded on your iphone…yet.)

Now for something delicious that won’t fit in a gift bag: the first Wednesday of every month, we honor our profound relationships with local farmers by serving a whole-hog tasting menu. Four courses dedicated to the deep culinary traditions of pork and the strong farming heritage of this corner of the South. And tonight’s the night. The focus for December is the great food and wine of South Africa. The four-course menu is $48 per person and $64 if you add the wine option. The menu is limited to 20 people and there are a few seats left. Reservations required by phone (919 929 2263) and are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme
Reservations: 919 929 2263 or online