It might be the "word of 2022," but inflation is effecting every aspect of our lives it seems.
We hate to break it to you, but that includes one of Texas' most treasured trademarks.
KXAN in Austin is reporting that the price of Texas barbecue has doubled due to inflation.
John Bates, chef and proprietor at Interstellar BBQ, says that when his restaurant opened paying $2.75 per pound for brisket. Now, on average, he's paying close to $5.
"We're seeing this effect where it goes up, and it stabilizes, and then it goes up again, and it stabilizes," he says. "And it becomes like the new norm that this is where the prices are at."
Bates attributes the rising costs of meat to the extra challenges farmers are having to face.
"Farmers are having to deal with expensive fuel costs, expensive corn costs—they're having to deal with hot weather," Bates says. "It just makes it difficult for them to get a high-quality product to us without charging their fair rate."
For now, Bates says "high-quality service" should be the focus of restaurants while dealing with inflation and running a small business in Austin.
"When guests come out—and they may have to spend a little more for your food—they leave happy because they've been treated really well," he says.
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