September 23rd, 2026

Greetings from Carrboro,

You have to queue up on the sidewalk next to the restaurant. There’s music from an inoffensive radio station that crackles through a tinny, wall-mounted speaker. Usually, the line moves pretty fast. Once inside, they are strictly business. The 50-something uniformed waitress arrives within 30 seconds to take your order, pen poised impatiently over her book of tickets.

Because, honestly, you should know what you want; this is Langer’s Deli in LA. And despite the doormat-sized menu, most people know exactly what they’ll order before they walk in the door. You go to Langer’s for the #19. Full stop. Yes, you can and should add potato salad and a chocolate malt. But trust me: the four burly guys you see in the back slicing hot pastrami are not decoration. The woman I was with flirted with disaster and asked for the turkey melt minus the melt, and the gobsmacked waitress had to retreat and find out if they actually had turkey in house or if it was just on the menu to fill space. Her next query about iced tea was met with similar dismay that resulted in a steeping cup of Lipton and a glass of ice.

Traveling abroad can be just like going to Langer’s. You may talk about always wanting to explore mainland Greece but, come July, you’ll be under a beach umbrella staring at the Aegean – side by side with the Greeks themselves. And for some people, this is even true of Italy. Yes, the Italian “menu” is rather spectacular – I’m looking at you, Rome, and you, too, Venice. But to all the true Italophiles I trust, Italy’s #19 is Piedmont, the Land of Kings.

Nestled at the base of the Alps, Piedmont is a never-ending treasure trove of breathtaking scenery, legendary wines, and mouthwatering food to match. This is an Italy you may never have imagined but one that you’ll never forget. Where else in the world can you stand next to a palm tree and look at snow-covered peaks? While sipping Piemonte DOC Spumante? So, if the extraordinary is on your bucket list, you should join us in May 2027 as we explore the Alto Piemonte around the famed Lake Maggiore.

Few people in the world understand the true nature of luxury quite like the Piemontese; the region has been a vacation paradise for centuries. There is an unquestionably profound sense of hospitality woven into the very nature of the place. The fantastic accommodations that we’ll call home are perched on the edge of Lake Maggiore itself. And, believe me, that alone is reason enough to want to join us; the beautiful images online don’t do it justice.

But it is the private access, the doors that we’ll open with the help of our friends in the region, that makes this trip so unique – from exploring Verbania’s Mercato Contadino, where we’ll make a delicious meal from our seasonal haul to a local-led boat tour of the Borromean Islands to the absolute glories of Gattinara, the Alto Piemontese expression of nebbiolo. We’ll visit the villages and renowned family-run wine estates that define the region, tasting in private cellars and meeting with the winemakers who craft Piedmont’s most famous export. And, of course, we’ll indulge with intimate and phenomenal meals that you’ll remember for years – think Alto Piemonte’s famous risotto finished with gorgonzola, made just a few miles away in Novara. But above all, we’ll take the time to relax and discover the deep rhythm of this ancient land.

Basically, the #19 with an Italian accent.

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme