Price of Rice Hits Home While Gas Price Keep Diners Home?

"You can't charge enough to keep up with food prices."  So said Tavee Yaparwong, owner of my favorite Thai restaurant in Albuquerque, who just told her customers she would  be closing down the $7.43 lunch buffet in favor of $7.95 daily specials. "Rice alone, jasmine rice, has gone up 150% in the past month, " she added.  And apparently the buffet was starting to have excess food going to waste on a regular basis.  Fewer people driving the extra miles to eat out, due to gas prices? Fewer people eating out at all, due to the need to put extra cash towards gas?

Comments

[Rose]

Could it not be that the reason for not eating out is the fact that food in general is not very good in restaurants? That home cooking is usually better? The portions smaller and more attractive?? When Americans complain about gas prices I can only ruefully laugh- we pay the same for a litre. And yes, food prices are increasing here too.
Now, just after the Pennsylvanian Primary I am going back to sulk.

[Foodie]

This place has superlative fresh food and a steady ( I thought) group of loyal customers. Hence my depression at the end of a great thing.
Yes--finally our gas prices are barely approaching yours!