Andrew Clarke isn’t afraid to play around with cuisines. “Acme has always borrowed from different cuisines and traditions,” the Acme Fire Cult (AFC) chef and owner told Broadsheet last year, after turning his fire-driven Dalston restaurant into a chophouse for the autumn. He followed that up in January with a temporary transition into a curry house, serving complex curries, big-flavour kebabs and skewers, and a naan version of its famous bread and Marmite butter and pecorino. Now, Clarke is looking to Mexico in an entirely different space. On April 3, he’ll launch Acme Taco in 40ft Brewery on Walthamstow’s Blackhorse Road and then expand the concept to 40ft’s Dalston taproom – which is AFC’s neighbour – in the summer.
Acme Taco’s menu riffs on Clarke’s recent travels to Mexico City, and is a continuation of his use of Mexican chillis and spices on the AFC menu. As is common in Mexico, Clarke’s tacos will layer two soft tortillas for extra structural integrity. Highlights will include the suadero taco, a Mexico City street food that’s only served in a few spots around the UK. Here it will incorporate confit ox cheek, and beef sausage, heart and tongue, with a smoky bone marrow and salsa roja finish. The menu will also nod to one of LA’s most beloved taco trucks Mariscos Jalisco, which is famous for its shrimp tacos, with a hard-shell taco loaded with shrimp bechamel, avocado and clamato. Quesabirria – soft tortillas folded over Westholme Wagyu and cheese that’s fried and served with a dipping consommé – will be on the menu, as will a chicken taco and a vegan option. In other words, it’s food you feel like after a few pints.
The collaboration between Clarke and 40ft founder Steve Ryan marks the brewery’s first permanent food menu. “In my opinion, tacos are the best handheld food on the planet,” Clarke said in a statement. “You can pretty much put anything in a tortilla, and that gives us a great opportunity to be creative and playful with our menu.”
Acme Taco will be available on Thursday and Friday evenings, all day Saturday and at Sunday lunch.
Acme Taco opens on April 3 at 40ft Brewery on Blackhorse Road. It will launch in the summer at 40ft in Dalston.
