What are these ‘Biscuits and Gravy’ that you speak of?
My British sister-in-law appears to be quite repelled by the American ‘delicacy’ that is ‘Biscuits and Gravy’.
‘Do Americans eat biscuits and gravy together?’ she asked, aghast.
To be fair, I think she assumed that the biscuits in question might be similar to either Rich Tea or, God forbid, a Digestive. I think you’d agree that a Milk Chocolate Digestive and Gravy is not a winning combination.
I assured my sister-in-law after she had come across, much to her disgust, several online recipes for Biscuits and Gravy Casserole that the biscuits were, in fact, akin to savoury scones.
The offending biscuits and gravy
My American chum then spouted forth about ‘cream chipped beef over biscuits or sausage gravy over biscuits’, which she declared as ‘disgusting’.
Let’s mull this over. When I spoke about Yorkshire Puddings recently to American friends, they were just as bemused….’So they’re like fluffy pancakes with chicken stock on? How strange! I’ll take maple syrup any day.’
This is a Biscuits and Gravy casserole. Excuse me while I leave the room….
‘Tis true, I am not a fan of Biscuits and Gravy – I’ve tried it in the form my American friend suggests, and in many other ways, at many American brunch buffets, and I confess it’s never won me over (I kind of hide it under my knife and wish I’d got more smoked salmon instead).
But, if you’re up for giving it a go back in the UK, this recipe’s supposed to be pretty good. It’s not a thing I’ll be taking back, though!
Ruby Tuesday
In the town in which I live there is a restaurant called Ruby Tuesday. It is a chain restaurant.
When I first arrived in the town in which I live I thought this might be a curry house. When my British friend arrived last week in the town in which I live she also said that she thought that this might be a curry house.
It is not a curry house. It is a sort of fast-food, diner-style place.
Not a curry house
If this restaurant was in England and called Ruby Tuesday, it would definitely be a curry house, all thanks to Cockney Rhyming Slang. Fact.
(NB: American friends – Ruby Murray = Curry in Cockney Rhyming Slang) 😉
ukdesperatehousewifeusa 
Whilst (see what I did there?) we’re on the subject, may I ask why they’re called “digestives?” Forgive me, but this seems a bit unappetizing….like they may be for an upset tummy or something. Either that, or they are full of fiber so they aid in digestion? Are all cookies ‘digestives’ or just some? 🙂
I’ve wondered this, too.
The Digestive biscuit is an age-old English tea-dunking biscuit! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_biscuit
Biscuits and sausage gravy are, without a doubt, one of the most delicious things America has ever invented.
🙂
Sent from my iPhone
I honestly cannot comprehend why one could not like biscuits and gravy…It literally makes no sense at all. I didn’t even know that it was possible.
Biscuits and gravy must only be a southern US thing because I have never seen it on a restaurant menu nor known anyone who makes it up here in the North. I understand that some people do love it but I can never get past the look of it. The blah color and the chunky texture is, well…rather vomitous.
I’ve certainly seen it in some Maryland restaurants 🙂
Sent from my iPhone