Greetings from Carrboro,

Sometimes you learn things in the wrong order. Like finding out that “Ring Around the Rosie” is a really cute song about dying from the black plague a good ten years after the song is embedded in your brain. From then on, the plague is awkwardly linked to kindergarten and giggling. An odd marriage to say the least.

The Banana Splits was a very disturbing children’s TV show long before it appeared on my culinary radar. The giant-headed costumed characters freaked me out. (H.R. Pufnstuf still haunts me.) And as an added bonus, I always associated that show with the Williamson’s down the street. They had wall to wall shag carpet that reminded me of the Banana Splits costumes and their house smelled bad. Not the best associations to have with a dessert icon.

So, the true dessert was always intimately mixed with a family that had three lava lamps and strands of beads hung in most doorways. And those scary costumed things from TV. Not quite the ideal association for a legendary ice cream concoction. Needless to say, my initial sampling of an honest-to-god banana split was a tad trepidacious.

But I figured 40+ years on, why not give it another chance. And, really, is there a better time than right now? In the middle of our Calabash Bash? Ice cream and summer are kinda the quintessential BFFs. Though we did switch it up a bit. Because, well, we couldn’t help ourselves.

The Acme banana split. Blueberry, nectarine, and cherry ice creams, the eponymous fruit, pineapple sauce, chocolate sauce, pecans, and plenty of whipped cream. And if you’ve never seen the TV show, I heartily recommend that you have one of our banana splits first. Trust me. The right order matters.

This weekend @ Acme: the Calabash platter – fried flounder, shrimp, & scallops, deviled crab, cole slaw, hushpuppies, corn on the cob, and watermelon. Forever roasted pig. SOFT SHELL CRABS! The Acme banana split. Wedge salad. Bacon & roasted tomato cornbread. Watermelon sangria. Southern tomato pie. Martha’s chili relleno. Smoked fish dip. Acme smashburger. Shooting Point Oysters on the half-shell. Shrimp cocktail. Piña Colada Pie. Blackened salmon. Summertime succotash. Acme tomato plate. Cold beer. Summer wine. And the ideal temperatures this weekend are on us. You’re welcome.

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme