I'm back and feeling refreshed from a week of hiking, fishing and mountain biking in the High Sierras. I know it's been quiet on the blog front here, but I've got some tidbits to share.

First, after many construction delays, Domenica Macchia, former chef at Redwoods, has announced the opening date for her new venture MJ's Martini Jazz & Tapas (445 99 Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-329-6600). Opening September 3, she says her aim is to offer quality foods at "reasonable and realistic prices." Sounds good to me: fried turkey breast, rabbit sausage, kobe franks and beans, braised short ribs, salmon with lavender honey sauce and--here's a bit of a first for the Tampa bay area--some molecular gastronomy science. Looking forward to checking out her mad scientist creations.

Burdick Chocolate out of New Hampshire ("first in the nation," natch) has just launched the Obama and McCain Assortments. That's a sweet way to support your candidate. They include flavors like "Kansas Corn Crunch" and "Hawaiian Pineapple" for the Democrat; "Arizona Citrus" and "Hot Pepper Tequila" for the Republican. The chocolates are offered in quarter- and half-pound assortments ($15 and $28) and every box comes with an official campaign button. I'm not saying which side of the aisle I'm rooting for, but McCain's gianduja and organic peanut butter chocolate rocked (his hot pepper tequila lacked any real pepper oomph) while Obama's Kenyan coffee ganache had fabulously intense coffee flavor.