The Nitty Gritty
For Memorial Day weekend I spent over 24 hours in a car with a 6-year old, traversing the length & width of Florida & parts of Georgia. Yeh, he is MY 6-year old, but road trips and kids just don’t mix. There were plenty of, “Are we there yet?”s, mingled with, “I REALLY have to go to the bathroom!”s. Not to mention the seat belt that had to be cut off of his torso and the flat tire that needed to be changed in the rain.
And while the majority of the trip was just a pain in the arse, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was The Grits Cafe in Forsyth, Georgia.
“Southern Food with Flair” (their quote, not mine), The Grits Cafe boasts quite an impressive menu for a city of around 4,000 people. When asked by Deuce (the kid) how big the city was, the waitress pointed out the window at the 4-block square surrounding their quaint Town Center and replied, “You’re looking at it, kid.”
And even though grits are a southern lover, the Canadian owner/chef Wayne Wetendorf and his wife Terri have managed to dress this farm favorite up in urban sophistication.
I give you, the Grits Martini.
Now this is a drink with bite – creamy stone ground grits, topped with shrimp, apple smoked bacon and shitake mushroom cream sauce. This martini makes love to your taste buds. It is rich, yet down-to-earth; decadent, yet familiar. And oh-my is it yummy.
The price tag for this appetizer is $7.75 and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Well, maybe a little when it’s all gone.
So, if you’re a Floridian who finds themself on I-75 towards ATL, or a Georgian headed to Disney World or MIA, make sure you get down to the nitty gritty and swing by The Grits Cafe. It’s Exit 187.
Cheers & Bon Appetit! -i
Eclectic Enigma 