Grits
Grits are a porridge made by boiling hominy, which is coarsely ground hulled corn (aka maize). It is similar in texture to Italian polenta (which is made from ground whole-kernel corn). It is also similar to farina, which is marketed in the US as "Cream of Wheat".
It is a characteristic food of South America, eaten either as a breakfast cereal or a side dish at a noon or evening meal.
Various tasty ways to eat grits:
- With butter
- With butter and a bit of salt and pepper
- With gravy
- With butter, milk, and brown sugar (more typical of the Midwest than the South)
- With cheese cooked in
An informal way of determining whether one is in the "Southern USA" subculture or not is by noticing whether waitresses at roadside restaurants automatically ask, "You want grits with that?" with every order.
See also: Sweet Tea, United States Regional Cuisine, Hot Grits
In Canada, Grits is a slang term for members of the Liberal Party of Canada or the provincial Liberal parties. It refers back to the foundation of the party, which was described as being for "men of clear grit."