3 weeks ago we told you that the price per pound of chicken, the cheapest and preferred source of meat protein for Belizeans was about to go up.
And it didn't just go up at the grocery store, that price hike has taken up the standard price of a plate of stew chicken and rice and beans, and, now, the same for that other national dish - the one we're not so proud of - fried chicken from your favorite Chinese takeout.
Case in point, the famous Kick Down Fence, a fried chicken fixture that had long withstood the vicissitudes of inflation to maintain their $5 and $3 plates. But, now with the increase in chicken prices, they've had to implement a 25 cent price hike.
Now, as they say, "da only shilling" - but it's also the symbolism of leaving behind a long established price standard - and the last remaining 3 dollar chicken in the country.
Cherisse Halsall headed to the original Kick Down Fence this morning to see how consumers were taking it. Here's that story.
Fried Chicken at Kick Down Fence has gone up, up by $25 cents to be exact. And at lunchtime when we tried to poll consumers, most had registered the change but didn't seem too bothered by it.
Customer
"I'm not from Belize so $5.25 is good for me."
We asked this customer what he thinks the reason is behind the price hike.
Customer
"I expect because it's nice everybody loves it."
Cherisse Halsall:
"But have you heard that chicken gone up?"
Customer
"Yeah, they tell me that chicken has gone up as I came they said 1.25, 3.25 and 5.25. I've been buying chicken since I was small and it's nice too at 3.25."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, but how did you react when you found out about this 25 cents price jump, I no feel no way because it's nice."
These girls were grabbing a quick bite on their lunch break and told us that they were surprised when the city eatery they'd discovered raised its price.
Customer
"We're not from here."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, how you find out about Kick Down Chicken? Or how long have you been eating it?"
Customer
"Working for SIB and we just ask where they sell chicken and we came here."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, but when did you find out that this chicken had gone up by 25 cents?"
Customer
"Before, ending of October when we came to buy and it was $3.00. Yeah it was $3.00 and then we notice it was $3.25 and we said, what!, anyways the fried chicken nice so we come buy."
Another young man we met took issue with the extra 25 cents forcing him to change standard wording of the traditional kick down order.
Cherisse Halsall:
"How long you been eating kick down fence chicken?"
Customer
"Well I just recently start work here, just recently."
Cherisse Halsall:
"How do you like it?"
Customer
"It's pretty good, I no gwen lie the price well it went up. Last week I found out that the price went up."
Cherisse Halsall:
"And when you found out how did you react?"
Customer
"I was shocked because usually when we go buy fry chicken we ask for a $5 fried chicken and now it's $5.25 like what the hell. You know it's kind of weird to me."
Cherisse Halsall:
"And this was the last $3.00 chicken, I think in the country how do you feel that that's gone now?"
Customer
"I used to actually like the $3.00 chicken my dad. My dad used to bring me here and that's like the first thing I used to ask for."
Cherisse Halsall:
"What would have to be the price before you stop buying Kick Down?"
Customer
"Hmph, after 7, after $7.00."
And some say they don't worry about prices, for them, it's all about the taste.
Customer
"I just started eating chicken, well someone sent me to pick it up not for me but buying it for the person like a young lady, right, she told me like the chicken is getting smaller but the price is going up but I can't complain about the price because everybody has to make a living and everything is going up not only chicken."
"The price don't matter because whenever I'm buying anything I don't ask the price I just spend my money and if it's worth it it's worth it and kick down chicken is always the best so people always line up here for it."
As far as our checks show, "Kick Down" was the last $3 dollar chicken plate sold in the city - if anyone knows anywhere else still selling at that price, feel free to post it in the comments section.
