I call it polenta and I love it. Never had it as a breakfast item or sweet with syrup. I've always had it either loose or set and fried with a meat ragout(stew or braise) over it. Communal in an Italian household was this; a big pot was made, then poured onto a large wooden board. An indentation was made with a big wooden spoon, and the meat ragout was ladled in. Everyone helped themselves. For frying the same technique as above, made and poured into a greased loaf pan, left to set up in the fridge, then cut into slices. They are fried or grilled. Sometimes, we doctor up the cornmeal mix with herbs, garlic, or red bell peppers too. It adds a little something extra.