Are they disgusting or what??
Several years ago, I was attending a function at Arkansas State University at Mountain Home, Arkansas (ASUMH).
While there, I was introduced to a person who had just relocated from the “Windy City” to my hometown in the "Twin Lakes" area.
I don’t remember how or when the conversation evolved (perhaps I should say “devolved” )into a discussion about our Arkansas customs, but this character mentioned that he was served “GRITS” for breakfast at a restaurant that morning, and that “the mere sight of grits” sickened him.
He then asked me if I (as an “academic”, as he put it, apparently attempting to place me on the same cultural level as he perceived himself) ate that sort of thing.
I will not bore readers with further details of the encounter with this fine “gentleman” from Chicago, but an article in today’s Baltimore Sun revived that memory:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/food/foodanddrink/sns-fdcook2-wk2,0,3686558.story?page=2
So, what do my NYC neighbors think about grits?
Hey, don’t pull punches . . . let it all hang out!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
27 Comments:
Not a NYC neighbor....but good grits are a rare & wonderful thing.
Kim Nyland at 3:21PM on 06/14/07
I hate grits, but I love polenta.
Lou at 3:36PM on 06/14/07
Not in NYC either, but grits - good grits - are a staple food in the south. I'm not talking about instant or quick grits. True, 'done right' grits should nearly support a spoon when stuck in the middle.
"Good" grits are ground fresh and kept in the freezer until needed. THen, you cook at a ratio of 1 cup of grits to 5 cups of water. Add salt during cooking and a little butter at the end.
I am not a fan of putting stuff IN grits - I'm a grits purist, I guess. A little butter, a little salt ... mmmm ...
At a fish-fry, you'd be hard pressed to find any other side dish than grits. MAYBE a hushpuppie or two, but grits are staple at a fish fry.
At a local restaurant (in Atlanta, called Crescent Moon) they cook what's called Griddle Grits. Basically, grits with cheese are put on a flat top and cooked until the cheese begins to harden then, you add items to the grits as if you were making an omelet. Basically, it's an omelet made with grits instead of eggs. YUM.
rbryants at 4:34PM on 06/14/07
Not an NYC neighbor anymore but Grits is goood stuff.... perhaps your coleague has never heard of cheese and grits, which I beleive hold the universe together.
kitchenbea at 4:34PM on 06/14/07
@rbryants
Damn! I am so glad that you responded to my query.
Because I remember "griddle grits" from my youth . . . and that was over 50 years ago!
Thanks a million for reminding me about that.
Hey, that's what this wonderful forum (website) is all about, in my opinion!
DocChuck at 4:52PM on 06/14/07
I have never had grits, never really seen grits...I am a canadian though and they are not popular up here. Sound yummy though!
Lilartist at 5:03PM on 06/14/07
DocChuck, here in Michigan I can probably count on one hand the folks I've talked to about grits who enjoy them as much as I do. Thanks for the link with the great-sounding recipes!
LunaPierCook at 5:16PM on 06/14/07
Grits w/ sharp cheddar cheese and jalapeno peppers! Yum!
(And, although I can't eat seafood, a lot of my friends swear that shrimp and grits is a true South Carolina Lowcountry delight.)
pageycooks at 5:20PM on 06/14/07
I love grits. If they're poorly prepared, they can be too runny or too bland, but if they're well-prepared, love'em. I'm in NYC, but grew up mostly in Va. My parents aren't southerners, so I didn't have a lot of grits as a kid.
Lucia at 5:20PM on 06/14/07
With butter and a little syrup, they're palatable, but just barely. I think the thing that makes it better for the southerners who enjoy it more is that there's all kinds of emotional associations from their youth that the rest of us don't have.
DaveFaris at 5:22PM on 06/14/07
Love grits when prepared by an expert!
JEP at 5:57PM on 06/14/07
I love grits. I don't know if we have *great* grits here in New York City, but even the standard grits I get on occasional weekends are mighty tasty.
This reminds me of the Alton Brown show on grits vs. polenta. Good show, that one was.
Adam Kuban at 6:02PM on 06/14/07
'wichcraft, the NYC chain of sandwich shops, serves grits with ham and cheese all day, everyday. They frequently sell out because they are so good...a real cult favorite here in town.
annien at 6:49PM on 06/14/07
Grits are good stuff. Cooked well, where they are thick and earthy and chewy. With shrimps- yum. with eggs and bacon- yum. Made with broth, water or milk- yum. If you don't like them, a good chance you haven't good ones yet...
shaofan at 9:13PM on 06/14/07
DaveFarris - I've always held to the opinion that grits should be savory, not sweet. Maybe trying them without the syrup (I've even heard some people put SUGAR on them - sacrilege!), just a bit of butter and some salt might sway you?
They're not oatmeal, after all. But that's just my opinion - you may just not like them!
One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta (Joel - www.joelrestaurant.com) has a side dish of grits that are actually more hominy than grits, but tastytastytasty none the less.
rbryants at 10:00PM on 06/14/07
DocChuck - I'll go have brunch Saturday and get some griddle grits - just for you! I'm due for a good southern breakfast ...
rbryants at 10:04PM on 06/14/07
I have just been converted into a grits lover. I'm giving a shout out to Ham n' Eggs in Lewisville, TX for making me a believer.
I had them plain by the way with a wonderful fried egg on top.
Carosone at 12:39AM on 06/15/07
AL, GA, LA, MS,....I can vouch for these states being a southern boy...grits and sausage (spicy boudin or choriza dishes), breakfast grits, shrimp and grits, grits prepared like polenta, etc.................
Just think of them as the Southern Risotto (if you will) KING of ground corn products.
tyronebcookin at 9:46AM on 06/15/07
Im in NYC - but I have a mom from Alabama and a dad from Texas so I was born to love grits.
My family hates cheesy ones but I love 'em.
ceforrester at 12:10PM on 06/15/07
I'm a transplanted new englander. I lived in Alabama for 4 yrs before I ever tried grits, but now as the the song says "I'm a believer!" ;)
huney_bumper at 2:07PM on 06/15/07
I lived in Atlanta for 9 months as a child and had to eat 'em. I really don't like them at all. However, if they're disguised as polenta, made into cakes and either fried or baked, I can tolerate them.
hereandthe at 2:12PM on 06/15/07
I live in Charleston, SC (a.k.a. grits capital of the world) so when I have my Northern friends visit, which they often do, I practically force feed them Shrimp and Grits. I have converted even the most determined haters into lovers.
I would highly highly highly recommend Anson Mills brand- http://www.ansonmills.com/.
They are above and beyond the best grits you will ever have. Period.
MML at 7:58PM on 06/15/07
I really don't see why this question was couched with a "city person" being a blowhard about a "country" delicacy and getting his comeuppance when the southern "academic" turned out see this urbanite for his true snobby stripes. How about a plain and simple, "Do you (y'all) like grits?"
I live in New York City, I grew up in the suburbs of it, and spent a decent amount of time south of the Mason Dixon Line. And I do like grits, when they're made well.
smalera at 8:06PM on 06/15/07
Never lived in the south, born in NYC, now living even farther north. I eat grits whenever I can. Love 'em.
baboo at 10:04PM on 06/15/07
@smalera:
Good question: How about a plain and simple, "Do you (y'all) like grits?"
Answer: I guess, because that's not how I wished to couch my question.
Sorry if it (my post) offended you in some way.
DocChuck at 3:14PM on 06/16/07
I am a NYCer who desperately loves grits, but is dietarily restricted from eating them often. Oh the irony!
FKC at 6:07PM on 06/16/07
I've disagreed with DocChuck in the past, but in this case I love how the question was posed, especially from a "been there, done that" point of view. All my former in-laws were from the south, some of whom thought they could "get" me by putting things in front of me they were sure I wouldn't like.
Dang it all, now I have a hankerin' fer grits again ...
LunaPierCook at 8:44AM on 06/17/07