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Angel Biscuits at May Fair House (Photo courtesy St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church)
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An egg and cheese biscuit at Fat Rabbit (Photo by Ryan Rich)
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The Cobbler at The Sassy Biscuit Co. (Photo courtesy The Sassy Biscuit Co.)
1. Buttermilk Biscuit
$2.95 at Early Bird Biscuit Co.
The sound of a screen door slapping shut in a dining room decorated with vintage baking gadgets brings to mind slow Southern mornings. Here, enjoy a classic buttermilk biscuit served with housemade jam and a cup of coffee atop a saucer. On Tuesdays, the deal of the day includes a hunk of Edwards country ham folded between the biscuit’s endlesslly flaky layers ($4).
2. Vegan Egg Biscuit
$5.75 at WPA Bakery
Lingering over biscuits at this South Side shop facing Patrick Henry School of Science & Arts is a cherished memory in our household. We went to the bakery for the vegan biscuits, made with margarine rather than butter, the friable pastry comes loaded with a silky tofu scramble and dairy-free cheese. These sammies also come in a lacto-ovo vegetarian option, or you could add ham, bacon or soysage (soy “sausage”) for $1.25.
3. Angel Biscuits
$12 per dozen at May Fair House at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
As cooler days approach, the May Fair House will expand its hours starting Sept. 8, making it easier to pick up a homey casserole, dessert or biscuit from the church gift shop. Angel biscuits use four types of leavening for their rise, making them a cross between a traditional buttermilk biscuit and a Parker House roll. A touch of sweetness and a tender chew make these bread-y lovelies the ideal ones to bring to dinner.
4. Egg and Cheese Biscuit
$8.50 at Fat Rabbit
Ginormous square biscuits are the calling card for housemade biscuit sandwiches across the city, but Union Hill’s Fat Rabbit bakery eclipses all others when it comes to excess — butter upon butter, let’s call it. Crumbly but sturdy, airy yet dense, this quick bread brims with omelet and cheddar and makes movie theater popcorn seem underwhelmingly larded.
5. The Cobbler
$12.50 at The Sassy Biscuit Co.
Keeping a drop biscuit moist, soft and crumbly rather than dry and heavy is challenging. This new Manchester dining room masters the drop biscuit right in front of your eyes, in flavors including bacon, chocolate chip and cheddar. Have a seat in the modern, spacious eatery and order Sassy’s specialty: a pressed biscuit in waffle form, topped with jammy blueberries and sweet lemon butter. Add a mimosa to make a morning of it.
