DNC in your mouth: Donkey and 'phant truffles

We have several months to go before we actually get to vote. But with the Democratic National Convention headed to town in just a few weeks, you can declare your allegiance in chocolate.

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.'s Election Collection goes on sale this week at Fresh Market stores in Charlotte. Each four-piece box features either elephants or donkeys whimsically rendered in chocolate and filled with dark chocolate ganache.

In our office, people thought they had a distinctly Seussian look, although the donkey looks a bit like a cow, while the elephant can be mistaken for a hippo. Still, for some of us, there are starting to be charms in the notion of biting the head off either totem.

Moonstruck rep Theresa Ford says they tried doing a mixed box with elephants and donkeys, but it didn't fly: "Nobody liked that."

The four-piece box is $15 SRP. If you want to watch videos of them being made, you can go to You Tube.

DNC Watch: Need a gift?

What do you give the delegate who has everything? How about a Queen Charlotte salt cellar and a bottle of Red Sea Salt? Savory Spice Shop has two limited-edition gift packages with Charlotte themes:

The Queen City Collection, $25, includes Lake Barkley Fried Chicken Seasoning, Smoky Hills Cheese Powder ("pairs nicely with potato salad and macaroni & cheese"), Frying Pan Pork Sausage Spice and Black Hills Barbecue Seasoning, a dry rub for slow-cooked barbecue.

The Queen City Set, $45, which includes a crown-shaped salt cellar and a 4-ounce bottle of Red Sea Salt.

Both are available at Savory Spice locations at Atherton Mills, near South Boulevard and Tremont, and in Birkdale Village.

Southern Living weighs Charlotte Vs. Tampa

They have shores, we have banks? For the August issue, Southern Living did a matchup comparing Charlotte, home of the Democratic National Convention, and Tampa, home of the Republican National Convention.

The Observer's former columnist Tommy Tomlinson did the essay duties on behalf of the QC, while the magazine also did a lineup up each city's credentials as a place to party. (The early version I saw still listed the kickoff party at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has since been moved to Tryon Street uptown.)

Among the recipes: Two versions of wings (left wings and right wings) and some cocktails with truly cringe-inducing names (Bourbon on the Baracks for Charlotte, the Grand Old Fashioned for Tampas, and the Muddle of the Road for those who are staying out of the whole thing.)

Get an early look at the SL coverage here.