Grits

I had an interesting encounter this weekend as I was having breakfast with a college student at the all too classy Denny's restaurant in San Dimas. I can't remember the last time I ate at a Denny's. I rarely go out to eat for breakfast, but when I do, where else would I go but the yummy Cracker Barrel? Since we don't have any Cracker Barrels around here, Denny's was our next option. After scanning the menu for a few, I finally settled on the grand slam. You can't beat 4 choices for $6! I went with a traditional egg breakfast including bacon, a biscuit and of course grits. I was so excited to see that grits was on the menu. I couldn't believe it.

The only thing that threw me for a loop was that it was on the menu as "creamy grits." What does that mean? Are we talking about texture here or do they have an entire different meaning for the word "grits"? I LOVE grits. I love them with bacon, cheese, shrimp, garlic, and any other savory flavored topping.

When our food came I proceeded to add a little butter, salt, pepper and then I crunched up my bacon to add. Without hesitation, my friend burst into laughter and explained that she had never seen anyone put salty toppings on their grits. "You mean you've actually seen grits?" I thought....out loud. "What do you put on them?" She then started listing sweet flavored toppings, such as sugar, with confidence in her knowledge of this exclusively southern dish. I was beside myself. WHAT? Are you kidding me? Not only could I not imagine eating grits as a sweet dish, I couldn't believe that this westerner was actually trying to tell me how grits are eaten. I began shaking my head and saying "no" repeatedly. I then began to carefully explain that grits is not a sweet dish and that this is just what happens when a Californian doesn't know how a southern dish is eaten. Grits is not a hot cereal like oatmeal or cream of wheat, it is corn....it's grits...it's completely different.