Drought comes to the dinner table; Rising food prices force restaurants to get creative
Rising food prices are changing the experience of dining out in Canberra as the hospitality trade comes to terms with drought across Australia and soaring world demand for basic foodstuffs. Canberra restaurateurs, fruit and vegetable retailers and farmers’ representatives are all reporting they have had to change their approach to cope with surging costs. Leading Canberra restaurateur Pat Trimboli of Mezzalira, Civic, said his business was forced to rethink the basics to deal with higher food bills. “As prices of meat and vegetables have gone through the roof in the last few years, we have had to get creative. With beef, for instance, we have started using more cost-effective cuts. Peasant or traditional dishes are making a comeback, and exotics are out,” he said. But while food prices were rising, the typical consumer was reluctant to bear the cost. “The industry is in a real squeeze. We’ve tried our best to keep prices down, but it’s a tough gig,” he said. In the year to the end of September, the price of vegetables jumped 21per cent, and with the hot summer months ahead, fruit and vegetable retailers were contemplating record wholesale prices for product. Canberra Times, October 28.
