A few years ago I was accosted at by a very obnoxious ahole who was terribly offended that I was putting butter and maple syrup on my grits at the diner where I was eating.
I won't repeat exactly what I said in reply, but it was essentially "mind your own business, eat your meal, or wear you meal, moron."
I then proceeded to DROWN my grits in maple syrup, so much so that I didn't really enjoy them.
I never ate grits until I moved below the Manson-Nixon line. They're not part of the Pennsylvania culture.
I normally eat them with sugar and cream, like a cereal.
But there are times when I like to go all out. I'll make them with chicken or vegetable broth or buttermilk, melt cheese in them, and add ham, chicken, or shrimp.
A few years ago the parents came down for the weekend and I made them buttermilk cheddar cheese grits for breakfast.