A report by Nation’s Restaurant News released today says flour prices have tripled and wheat prices are running five times above the year-ago cost. The NRN cites ongoing droughts in Australia, Argentina and Europe, plus last year’s dry summer in the United States, are responsible for depleted wheat supplies to 30-year lows abroad and 60-year lows at home. So, some of this is drought related, but much of the supply problem can be blamed on my personal current scapegoat, corn (just saw the documentary King Korn and I’m mad as hell at that crop. Hope their ears are burning—a little lame corn humor.). Increased corn planting and the government’s subsidy of the crop have cut down on acreage of wheat.

Add to that the soaring price of cheese, increased labor costs (Florida's minimum wage changed to $6.79 per hour at the beginning of 2008, up from the $6.67 per hour minimum wage in 2007), and it’s easy to see some independents and even pizza chains may get squeezed out.

So, that said, let’s pay tribute to the humble pie. I’ve been hearing great things about Sam & Eddie's somewhere in downtown Tampa(anyone know about this place?), and I’ve been meaning to check out Gio Fabulous Pizza & Wine Cellar also in Hillsborough. Any other great ‘za out there, before they’re all out of dough?