Beth's CafeOn the side of Aurora as you drive the Green Lake, a strengthening, finished dinner that in the decades of North Seattle to go to midnight. It's a little, it can't stop, it's family friendly, and it's a problem: eggs.
As nearly all known today, a Bird Flu blow killed many chickens that the supply chain was disturbed. Prices lost, shops difficulty To keep the eggs in stock, and restaurants around the country are scrambling (pun intended) to navigate the new environment. Some places changed their menus to de-emphasis on eggs while others charge more – Baffle House now has 50-cent Per-Egg surcharge.
Among Seattle restaurants, Beth's is especially affected by this lack. It is famous for many, 12 eggs omelets, and even six egg omelets and three egg scramble is heavy eggs. Dinner will end up 15 to 20 cases of eggs in a week, co-owner owner Mason Reed (who Over Beth's Lield Year took) speaks to the eater seattle. One case is 15 dozen eggs, so it means the restaurant crashes a long 3,600 eggs a week, which averaged over 500 per day.
Since the start of Bird Flu, the reinstant is emphasized about getting enough eggs to meet that need. Beth's heals its eggs from Wilcox farms, but “lately need to schach,” as the owner. Reed and his team goes to Cheftore and US Cheftore Cheftore and call calls anywhere with eggs. Prices can vary, and some distributors have limits how many eggs they can sell. “It's a juggling action,” says Reed.
“I feel like a drug dealer trying to find my source,” Reed added. “I'm calling around, going, 'what's the price? How much will you offer?'”
Not only the bird flu causing the price increase. At the beginning of 2024, a New Washington law All eggs are required in the state of the state without a cage. Price per egg in Beth pays from 9 cents to about 27 cents; A case of nearly $ 40, Reed said. In the last few months prices jump again and now Reed pays anywhere from $ 80 to $ 150 per case, depending on the week. “It's really messy,” Reed said.
Menu prices reflect these changes. In 2020, the triple bypass version of 12-egg omelet (with bacon, sausage, ham, and two cheese classes) $ 22.50, According to Seattle Time. In 2023, by Beth again after a temporary shutdown, the price has earned up to $ 34.95. Now that same omelet is $ 41.95. Reed said he raised prices twice since the beginning of 2024, once in dealing with the cost of the law without a cage and once to heavy to cost Seattle's Increase in minimum wage.
“Beth's famous in their big omelets, it's not something I want to take,” Reed said. But meditation on menu changes. Reed says the restaurant can try many non-egg options, including tofu scramblies, and offer small parts under $ 15. “We have tried our best to keep up with our best to keep up with our best to keep up with the best to keep our best to keep up with the best to keep our best to keep the prices as far as can, “he said. Beth's will offer $ 42 omelets for wannabe competitive eaters, but in its core it is a dinner that needs to serve families and people who work.
At least reeds a stable source of eggs, for now. “They are more than ever, but (the price) don't climb,” he said. Her new supplier is California-based company called alderwood eggs, but she hesitated to throw that name around. “I don't want to put it there because I don't want everyone to buy all my eggs.”