Trump’s policies increase ingredient prices for some Aspen restaurants
Tariffs, immigration crackdown, among reasons listed
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Some Aspen restaurants are feeling the effects of recent federal policy changes five months into Trump’s second presidency.
The president’s fluctuating tariff policy and his crackdown on immigration were both listed as reasons for increasing ingredient prices in Aspen.
Catch Steak switched its caviar supplier after Black Diamond Caviar, which had been supplying the restaurant with caviar from China, increased their prices from $650 to $800 per 250 grams. The increase came in January as Trump threatened to impose tariffs, according to Catch Steak Executive Chef Ryan Brooks.
“The biggest thing that we see, probably, was everyone freaking out before the tariffs even hit and jacking up their prices,” Brooks said of the vendors.
Come Feb. 1, Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports, which increased to 20% on March 4, 34% on April 2, peaking at 145% on April 10, before dropping down to 30% on May 12, according to PBS.
Catch Steak restaurant switched to buying Russian caviar from a different supplier following Black Diamond’s price increase.
Bear Den Aspen has also seen the repercussions of Trump’s policies.
Owner Alia Joonas said their ingredients have increased across the board, which could be because the farms they buy from are understaffed and must charge more for their products to account for the loss in total volume.
“A lot of the farms have immigrants working at the farms, and then some of them are getting deported or they’re not able to work,” said Joonas.
The bistro sources many of its foods from farms in Texas, California, and Oregon. Its summer menu prices increased by about 10% compared to last year, estimated Bear Den employee Charlie Cardazzo.
Aspen Public House, too, has had to make some changes since Trump became president.
The rustic pub has recently nixed its iconic truffle fries from its steak sandwich to account for an increase in the price of beef.
In the past six months, the price has nearly doubled from between $5 and $7 per pound to nearly $11 per pound, according to Aspen Public House Head Chef Douglas Lopez.
Lopez said he has never seen increases like these in his 24 years working in the local restaurant industry.
The restaurant replaced truffle fries with regular fries following the increase to keep the menu price of a steak sandwich and fries at $21.95.
During the same period, a 40-pound shipment of chicken increased from about $47 to $114. The restaurant has not increased the price of its $18.75 chicken sandwich in that time, according to Lopez.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.
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