Eating in America

[Arabesque]

1. What are 'grits' ?
2. If you were in an American restaurant and wanted your food grilled, what description would you look for?

Many thanks for help.

[Arabesque]

I now have answers - grits sound horrible - I'd prefer UK porridge - and 'Broiled' I associate with broiler chickens which certainly aren't grilled - they'd be as tough as old boots.

[Jules001]

I tried grits when we were in Florida and they were horrible cooked like porridge. I believe there are other ways of cooking them, but they still don't sound very appetising.

[BBWCHATT]

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grits

2. Here in the USA broiled food is made in the oven - grilled food is made in a grill pan on top of the stove or on a real grill either in the kitchen or outside.

[Arabesque]

Thanks for your answer BBWCHATT - would you say that 'broiler' is the correct term please?

[BBWCHATT]

Yes Arabesque - broiler is a correct term. When we broil food in our ovens - we turn the knob on the stove oven to the Broil setting (that is the highest setting on our electric stove ovens) - that makes the heating unit in the top of the oven at it's hottest - it will glow bright red - so it will broil food or if you just want something to brown - like the meringue on top of a cream pie - you would use it for that. It happens very quickly - so you have to stay close to the oven to make sure you don't burn it.

[BBWCHATT]

Arabesque - I think this may be able to explain it much better than I have:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broil

[Arabesque]

Many thanks BBWCHAT - now I understand it much better.