Cooking vs Restaurants

[Spongebob]

I can see that food diversity can be a challenge for some of you.  I understand, no judgement from me, but I am also a huge advocate of trying new foods.

@arewethereyet Regarding grits.  Now that's one of my favorite southern foods.  I've known a lot of northerners who just can't or won't develop a taste for them.  What a lot of those folks aren't aware of is that grits are quite diverse, as in not just for breakfast.  There are a number of ways to prepare grits and they fit in nicely in other meals.  And don't forget that grits are not just a southern food, its also served as polenta in many countries.  I've seen some recipes where you allow the grits to cool and solidify, then slice it into patties and fry them.

And if you haven't tried an arepa, then you certainly should.  It's a sort of muffin made from ground corn meal but it doesn't have the consistency of a cornbread muffin; it's a little more dense and moist.  Stuff it with cheese and pulled pork.  Delicious.  I've had these at specialty restaurants but never tried to make them at home.