Shrimp, Grits, and a Side of Glam: My Curious Encounter with Dolly Parton's TV Dinner Alex Gutierrez

Shrimp, Grits, and a Side of Glam: My Curious Encounter with Dolly Parton's TV Dinner

Alex Gutierrez

As a self-declared Shrimp and Grits enthusiast (okay, maybe borderline obsessive), I’ve sampled this Southern staple from the cobblestone streets of New Orleans to local gems like The Village Tavern in Broward which, by the way, never lets me down.

So naturally, when I spotted a frozen "TV Dinner" version of Shrimp and Grits with Dolly Parton's name on it wrapped in a bright, Barbie-pink box that could signal a glitter emergency I was intrigued. Correction: I was suspiciously intrigued. I quietly slipped it into my cart and later removed the cardboard sleeve in the breakroom like I was disposing of contraband. I just wasn’t in the mood to explain why my lunch looked like it came from Barbie’s Deep South Dreamhouse.

To my surprise, it wasn’t bad. Actually, it was better than your average frozen food fare—closer to “shrimp and grits” than “mystery stew with delusions of grandeur.”

Now, about the shrimp: they were... petite. Let’s just say if they were any smaller, I might have mistaken them for garnish. They were suspiciously pink, like they were still waiting to be introduced to heat, but tasted fine cooked, at least in the legal sense. Flavor-wise? Let's call it a polite whisper instead of a bold Southern drawl.

The sauce had a nice little kick, which helped make up for the shrimp’s shyness. There were hints of tomato that added some zip, but those cherry tomatoes and scallions proudly advertised on the box? They must’ve hit the snooze button barely made an appearance.

Still, as far as frozen meals go, Dolly’s Shrimp & Grits brought enough creamy, comforting flavor to make it worth the microwaving. It won’t dethrone the greats, but for a quick lunch that doesn't taste like regret, it gets the job done. Oh and don't forget to stir the ingredients together , it makes a difference.

Would I buy it again? Sure ,especially if it’s Buy One Get One Free. One for now, one to hide from the coworkers next week. Click here to listen to Dolly's Disco Song Baby I'M Burning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hggOR1HMx9M

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