The UK’s only American biscuit shop opened last year and after the owners recently introduced themselves online, food fans have discussed what a biscuit actually is
The first American biscuit shop in the UK, which opened its doors in Manchester last year, has sparked a lively debate among food fans. It’s no secret there are notable differences between US and UK culinary delights.
Both countries share a fondness for baked goods and fast food, with major American brands such as Five Guys, Wendy’s and Taco Bell making their mark on British soil. Another addition to the American food scene in the UK is Cardinal Rule, an American biscuit business that set up shop at Northern Monk Refectory MCR in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter in March 2024. Despite opening over a year ago, owners Gab and Dustin only recently introduced themselves via a TikTok video posted on Saturday, August 30, sharing their journey.
They expressed their delight in serving Brits their first taste of an American biscuit, a staple breakfast item in the southern states of America but critics have voiced their opinion that it’s essentially just a scone.
In the TikTok video, Gab shared: “The love of biscuits comes from growing up in Virginia. We both actually grew up in Virginia and it’s a really big part of southern cuisine.”
She went on to explain that during their first visit to Manchester in 2018, they found it to be a “really cool city” where they’d love to raise their family, but noticed a distinct lack of American biscuits.
The pair decided to set up their own American biscuit shop in the city. Dustin shared: “One of the delightful things about being in the UK is every day we serve people who’ve never had a biscuit before so trying to spread the word of biscuits so there’s this kind of like… it’s a special feeling to be able to give somebody their first biscuit.”
An American biscuit is similar to a scone but it has a flaky rather than crumbly texture and a savoury flavour, often paired with fried chicken, gravy or eggs.
Dustin added: “So folks here really love fried chicken and we kind of lure them in with the fried chicken and then we get them to try their first biscuit and then most people once they’ve had their first biscuit it’s kind of [like] the light bulb goes off and they’re like ‘oh ok, this is totally different, not like anything else that I’ve had’.
They introduced themselves on TikTok with the caption: “Figured it’s a good time to introduce ourselves. We’re Gab and Dustin, and we’re Americans making American biscuits in Manchester.”
Their video has racked up an impressive two million views and more than 5,000 comments. One viewer said: “Everyone has tried a scone!”
Another commented: “They are scones, not biscuits. Biscuits you dunk in tea, not eat with chicken.”
However, other commenters noted the differences between American biscuits and scones.
One user shared: “As a previous member of the biscuits = scones crowd, I have to say they are very very different just from texture alone.
“A good biscuit is light, flaky and has a savoury taste. Scones are denser, crumble more like a cake and have a sweeter profile. One is for your dinner, the other for your afternoon tea.”
Another second chimed in: “As someone who grew up with American biscuits and has had scones in GB dozens of times, I’m really amazed anyone could ever conflate those two food items. Apart from being baked goods, absolutely nothing alike.”