# If I time travel to the American Revolution, how should I expect the food?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968 "2015-03-25T20:43:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968/41 "2015-03-28T17:11:28Z")

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Disappointing wine lists

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**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968/42 "2015-03-28T19:27:32Z")

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> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#):
>
> Disappointing wine lists

At a tavern maybe, but not if you were a guest at the home of a prominent person or merchant. Wines from France were available and Jefferson had a huge cellar.

However, I’m no oenologist, but I suspect the wines drunk back then may have been different from what we’re used to today…maybe less bold flavors. No huge super-Tuscans, oaky buttery California chards, Australian shirazes, etc.

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**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968/43 "2015-03-28T21:22:27Z")

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> [@TSBG](#):
>
> However, I’m no oenologist, but I suspect the wines drunk back then may have been different from what we’re used to today.

I’ll say. [Madeira (fortified with brandy) was the most popular variety](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira_wine#Early_American_history_.2817th_.E2.80.93_18th_centuries.29).  
.

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968/44 "2015-03-29T03:34:12Z")

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> [@Spoke](#):
>
> Dried beans. Dried fruit. Jams. Root cellars preserving root vegetables intact. Salt pork. “Virginia ham.” Pickling. Parched corn.
> 
> In the South, at least, [winter gardens](http://www.southernexposure.com/southern-exposures-fallwinter-gardening-guide-ezp-38.html).
> 
> And of course, you could slaughter fresh meat as needed.
> 
> There were plenty of ways to eat well in the off seasons.

Don’t forget about cheese!

Other parts of the world preserve(d) their excess milk by making yogurt, kefir, koumiss, etc.

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**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-time-travel-to-the-american-revolution-how-should-i-expect-the-food/715968/45 "2015-03-29T14:48:25Z")

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According to Wikipedia, the dish of [biscuits and gravy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuits_and_gravy) was born out of the American Revolution.

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