It was a shock – and I mean shock – to learn in my first semester taking French at UNC that “sercy” was not, actually, French for “surprise.” Because, well, I had heard that proclamation oh-so-many times. Even in church! The fact that I almost argued the point with a native French-speaking professor should say enough. This conspiracy of lies boggled my mind.

All my life, a sercy was a little gift. But it had to be unexpected, out of the blue. And it had to be frivolous. Think: a piece of candy and not a bicycle – something that could be concealed in a closed fist.  “Would you like a sercy?” And the proffered rationale for the word was always the same; it’s French for surprise. Well, yes, of course it is.

Oh, the South. The fact that no one ever bothered to check out this little factoid seems decidedly southern. The colloquial south does not rely on Google for authenticity. To that end, I wouldn’t be surprised if “google” is defined as French for “search” in some circles (I’m looking at you, South Carolina). But I must give credit where credit is due: for whatever reason, the word sercy stuck.

And in our profound interest in reclaiming the South, Acme presents our version of Sercy. All 21^st century-like. Through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Acme is going to start handing out little gifts – little sercys – of deliciousness. Maybe free cornbread one day or a new-fangled margarita the next. All you have to do is follow us. And not miss the post. Simple. So, tell me, don’t you want a sercy?

Acme tomato plate. Grilled local flat-iron steak. Pan-seared mahi-mahi. Peach Cobbler. Fried okra and shishito peppers. Watermelon sangria. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Wild Salmon. Perfect chile rellenos. Cast-iron skillet crab cakes. Housemade spaghetti. Butterscotch pudding. Carolina shrimp. Cheeseburgers and fries. Bubbly. Gazpacho. Forever roasted pig. Squash casserole. Fresh field peas. Unknown Brewery’s Ginger Wheat beer. Macaroni and cheese. You didn’t really want to cook this weekend after all. I know; quelle surprise, we do.

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

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme