The Carnivore Revolution

There isn’t much that happens with our government, society and economy that would inspire me to take to the streets with pitchforks and torches. Gas prices are going up? Well, I don’t leave my home that much anyway. Lending crisis? I don’t plan on selling my house any time soon and it’s totally comfortable for me. Moral values in disrepair? Eh… I probably wasn’t all that morally acceptable to most people anyway. But now they’re hitting me where I live.

Brace yourself for barbecue shock

Americans are about to fire up their barbecues for the start of the summer cookout season, and one thing has become painfully apparent: It’s going to cost a lot more than it did last year to roast a burger, or just about any other barbecue favorite, on the grill.

Food inflation is the highest in almost two decades, driven by record prices for oil, gas and mounting global demand for staples such as wheat and corn, and for proteins such as chicken. And that’s reaching into Americans’ backyards.

The price of an average barbecue — with burgers, hot dogs, beer, soda, condiments, salad, paper plates and lighter fluid — could run families about 6 percent more than last year.

We’ve already begun to notice this. I grill a LOT during the spring and summer. The unit price of good quality steak is just getting brutal up in New York compared to recent years. For many products, I’m willing to go with a more economical option. Household cleaners, bathroom products… there are places where I’m willing to cut corners. But meat? I’m sorry, but I think not.

There’s a huge difference in quality between the various cuts of meat and where they come from. The good stuff is always expensive, but it’s really getting bad now. I prefer a nice T-bone or a New York Strip steak. Ribeye is nice as well. The prices are going through the roof and frankly, dear readers, I’m getting mad as hell and I don’t think I care to take it any more.

Light up the torches. The price of oil is affecting my BBQ habits, and enough is enough. To the streets, people!