I used to have family in South Carolina, and started eating grits after traveling there and other parts of the South. I always put salt, pepper, and butter. I like shrimp and grits too. My one son discovered that jelly was what he liked. I have heard of other things, such as maple syrup. I am not sure what the “right” way is to eat them. I have never had anyone at a Waffle House look at me as if I were doing something strange. A lot of places never serve anything with them except butter, so I figured that with salt and pepper was the way to go. I consider grits to be like rice — a neutral flavored food that you can do a lot with.
This was in SC! Dean was very upset! Butter and Peppah Sir!