Greetings from Carrboro,

This probably comes across as rather traitorous. Especially as I live rather deep inside Tar Heel country both physically and emotionally. But a good chunk of me will always be a diehard fan of Clemson University – and that University part specifically. OK, I get it; orange isn’t my favorite color either. But you’ll just have to forgive me.

Last Saturday, Clemson celebrated the 100th year anniversary of their graduate school program. And as part of the celebration, the school honored my grandfather, Patrick Henry Hobson (whom I called ‘Poppy’), at halftime of the Clemson football game against NC State. He was the very first student to ever receive a master’s degree way back in 1924.

And while the cheers in the stands were officially for Poppy, those 80 thousand people were equally applauding my grandmother (Lena Elizabeth Hobson, or ‘Gangy’) who helped pay for my grandfather’s master’s degree in education by daily baking pies – thousands of them – and selling them for a nickel apiece to the Clemson community. When asked how many pies she baked during that time, her only reply was “enough.” So, it’s not easy to say which of them worked harder for that graduate degree.

To honor each of their memory, Acme is going to celebrate my grandmother’s 126th birthday on Wednesday, October 9th, by selling slices of pie for 5¢ – yes, a nickel – until we run out. You gotta love a family tradition. Because regardless who you cheer for on the field or court, I think pretty much everyone is a fan of pie.

And next Tuesday, October 1st, we are having our latest installment of our Tuesday Supper Club. It’s a celebration of the season with an emphasis on chili peppers. The four-course meal will get started at 6:30 with doors opening at 6:00. Tickets for the Supper Club are $48 per person. Seats are limited. Menu is below. For anyone concerned, the plan is for the meal itself not to be spicy. But we will have our housemade hot sauce on the tables for those who want to take dinner up a notch or two. Either way, it will be delicious.

This weekend @ Acme: pan-seared Carolina big-eye tuna. Acme smashburgers. Watermelon salad. Angel biscuits. Cast-iron skillet pork tenderloin. Raul’s gumbo. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Acme tomato plate. Pumpkin spoonbread. Brussels’ sprouts. 16oz ribeye steaks. Southern tomato pie. Shooting Point Oysters. Acme wedge salad. Pecan-crusted chicken. Sweet potatoes. Ice-cold martinis. Acme tomato plate. Back-to-school pie. Fried okra. Martha’s chili relleno. Peel & eat shrimp by the pound. Forever roasted pig. Pecan pie a la mode. Hushpuppies. Fried flounder. Curried mountain apple soup. Calamari salad. Mint chocolate chip sundae. Acme cornbread. Sunday brunch! Crab cakes. Fried oyster po’boys. Hungry, yet?

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme