Acme Fire Cult’s Andrew Clarke launches street food spin-off Acme Taco

Chef Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult is to launch spin-off street food brand Acme Taco next month in partnership with Steve Ryan, founder of 40ft Brewery.

Acme Taco will take up a permanent residency within 40ft Brewery Blackhorse Road in London’s Walthamstow from 3 April, marking the brewer’s first food offering.

The street food concept will also be rolled out at the brewery’s Dalston taproom this summer.

The menu takes inspiration from Clarke’s recent trip to Ciudad de México and features dishes such as suadero taco with confit ox cheek, beef sausage, heart and tongue finished with bone marrow and salsa roja, as well as quesabirria (blend of a quesadilla and taco) filled with Westholme Wagyu chuck, roll fried cheese and consommé.

Other highlights include castacán, a premium take on the classic chicarrón, which combines chopped slow cooked pork belly with crackling, in addition to vegan options consisting of Symplicity Chorizo, I am Nut Ok stracciatella and pickled corno peppers.

Clarke said: “In my opinion, tacos are the best handheld food on the planet. You can pretty much put anything in a tortilla, and that gives us a great opportunity to be creative and playful with our menu. Looking ahead, we have plans to grow beyond tacos to include aguachiles, grilled meats, and other Mexican inspired fare.”

Acme Fire Cult was launched in April 2022 by Clarke, Ryan and former St Leonards head chef Daniel Watkins, who is understood to have left the business.

The concept is famed for using beer by-products to make sauces and ferments.