I’ve heard several news reports lately about the rising price of beef but haven’t been to the store to check things out. Today, stopping at White’s Meats in Bainbridge, I came face to face with the new reality.

I had Jeff cut me an eight pound brisket for the smoker and while I was waiting I surveyed the steak section of the display case. T-bone was bringing $8.99, NY strip $9.99, and filet mignon a whopping $15.99 a pound. At $2.99 a pound for brisket I think that’s about as close to steak as we’ll be getting this summer. Thankfully there are still some cheaper cuts and we have a good smoker.