Twice a month we take a look at local restaurants, farms and farmers markets featured on episodes of UNC-TV’s Flavor, NC. This week, we highlight episode eight from the first season, in which hostess Lisa Prince highlights the Old Mill of Guilford in Oak Ridge and J. Peppers Southern Grille in Kernersville.
In this episode Lisa visits Old Mill of Guilford where “grits are ground the old-fashioned way.” This mill is one of the oldest continuously-operating grist mills in the state. It has been providing all-natural, stone-ground grain since 1767. This episode shows how grain is brought in from the farm, ground on the stone and then packaged for sale.
[GotToBeNC]4X9qW-rRTEQ[/GotToBeNC]
Lisa then visits Chef John Jones of J. Pepper’s Southern Grille in Kernersville to learn how Old Mill grits are used in fried grit cakes. J. Peppers features traditional Southern fare with locally sourced meats, seafood and produce. Along with the grit cakes, Lisa and Chef Jones prepare fried oyster salad, Old Mill gingerbread with Grand Marnier and peaches, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes. Below is the recipe for fried grit cakes.
Grit Cakes
- 2 cups yellow grits
- 2 cups white grits
- 3 cups chicken and/or vegetable broth or stock
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion power
Method:
Bring stock, cream and spices to a boil. Slowly add grits and stir well. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, adding more cream if grits become too thick. Pour into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap and chill overnight. Slice chilled grits and pan or deep fry. If pan frying, dredge sliced grits in flour before frying.