A breakfast and brunch restaurant staple, biscuits and gravy have become part of the collective consciousness. Here, learn about the unique history of the delectable Southern side dish that continues to grace plates across the country. The food enjoys two national “holidays” on December 2 and February 21, and that’s in addition to National Biscuits and Gravy Week every second week of September.

A Quick History Concerning Biscuits & Gravy

A Regional Dish Following the Revolutionary War

Europeans who settled in the “New World” during the early 1600s enjoyed a diet that included a lot of meat, gravy, and wheat. They introduced pigs to the colonies, with the animals providing a popular form of meat and subsequent gravy.

Water or milk was added to the dish used to cook the meat, creating the biscuit-topping result. Butter was also usually added to increase the fat content and the thickness of the gravy. After the Revolutionary War, biscuits and gravy gained a foothold as a regional Southern dish thanks to its simplicity and inexpensive ingredients.

By the late 1800s, residents throughout southern Appalachia relied on calorie-heavy biscuits and gravy to satisfy their appetites. The region became known for “sawmill gravy” thanks to the connection with local sawmill workers. The workers needed dense food to provide energy for lifting logs every day, so gravy was added to biscuits to add calories as well as flavor.

The Commercial Availability of Baking Soda & Powder

In 1877, baking powder and soda became available to the masses, allowing people throughout the South to blend flour with either product to create the deliciously flaky texture biscuits remain known for. The additives eliminated the hard, lumpy biscuits gravy was originally poured over. Sometimes biscuits were served with butter and syrup as a special treat.

Gravy ingredients have varied over the years, with sausage juices providing a popular base. Biscuits and gravy can also come with beef bacon, cheese, and even fried chicken, depending on which brunch restaurant or food truck you visit. The delightful side dish also made its way to Northern restaurant tables; however, it remains a choice on almost every Southern establishment menu in the U.S. 

Whether you’re craving biscuits and gravy or other breakfast and brunch fare, stop by Belgian Waffle & Pancake House. Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, this family restaurant keeps residents throughout Branson, MO, and the surrounding areas satiated. Call (417) 334-8484 with questions or review the breakfast menu online. Visit Yelp for the latest reviews.