I used to eat Cheesy Grits almost every morning, and if you were eating with us around 2017, I bet you did too. We took our Plimoth-ground-grits off the menu for a little while, but now they’re back at all locations (except for the HUB for the time being). Stop in for breakfast during the next 2 weeks – we’re aiming for these to be hot and ready at 8am and we’ll be selling them til they’re out. The staff has been waking up extra early and adding a lot of extra whisking to their mornings, so we’d love to hear what you think. If you’ve never had our Cheesy Grits before, here are some things you should know….

Grits are made by grinding up dried corn! Then once you’re ready to make grits, you boil the dried corn until it gets silky smooth. At Clover we take them very seriously, whisking intermittently for the 1.5 hours it takes for grits to get perfectly cooked. Grits are great too because they don’t contain wheat, so if you’ve been searching for a less gluten-y breakfast item you’re in luck here.

2. GRITS ARE NOT *JUST* A SOUTHERN STAPLE

 

Here on the lands that later became Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Indigenous people were farming and grinding corn to make a type of coarse corn porridge known as sampe.

3. WE GET OUR CORN FRESH FROM PLIMOTH GRISTMILL

 

We were inspired to make grits after Ayr and his kids visited Plimoth Gristmill where Kim Van Wormer and her team stone-grind heirloom corn on a giant water-powered mill which is an exact replica of what was used back in the 1600s. Here is a video from our field trip to Plimoth Gristmill – you won’t believe how cool this machine is!

4. PEOPLE LOVED CHEESY GRITS AT CLOVER!

 

In fact the reason we pulled grits off the menu was not because they weren’t selling well, it was because of a very basic operational issue: burner space! We were launching Impossible Meatballs and we needed the pot to simmer marinara and meatballs leading into lunchtime. But Julia, Chris, and Jasper have worked their operational magic and new space has appeared.

Here’s an email from Anne, a customer, begging us to bring back the grits after that fateful day when they went away.

Hi, Clover team:
My subject line says it all. I’ve been getting the cheesy grits and egg (CG&E) at the Kendall Square store a couple of times a week. I LOVE the CG&E and have recommended it to others — and I miss it a bunch. (Did I mention I love it?)  Can you bring back CG&E?  I’m a fan of the breakfast sandwiches and oats, too, but oh, those cheesy grits…

Hi Anne : ) if you’re still reading, we’d love to buy you your first cheesy grits! Reach out : ) And if you’re not Anne but you missed the grits, get over to Clover in the next 2 weeks!