Biscuits with sausage gravy on a plate with a silver fork
FOOD NEWS
Biscuits And Gravy: The Debated Origins Of The Southern Classic
BY NIKITA EPHANOV
The origin of biscuits and gravy is fuzzy, but we do know the modern fluffy southern biscuit emerged once baking soda and baking powder were invented in the mid-19th century.
Precisely when the gravy became a common accompaniment is unknown. Some suggest it was served with earlier, drier biscuits around the Revolutionary War to make them more palatable.
It's more widely thought that it took off in the late 19th century in the Appalachian region. Once biscuit-making became more affordable, it emerged as a working-class favorite.
By the late 20th century, the dish could be found across the U.S. in restaurants in cities like Portland, Oregon, which started putting their own spins on it.