• Reason to boycott some jelly beans? The Jelly Belly factory up in Fairfield is playing host to a rally and fundraising dinner today for Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. [Vacaville Reporter]
• Berkeley-based organic pasta maker Annie’s made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange today, and share prices soared from an initial $19 to over $32 in the first hour of trading. [Bloomberg/Chron, Biz Times]
• Carlo Espinas, chef at Comstock Saloon, talks about simplicity in cooking, his favorite places to eat and shop, and how he’s getting tired of those ever-popular crackers with pepper jelly on his menu. [KQED]
• Now that Wendy’s has overtaken it as the country’s second-most-popular fast-food joint, Burger King is getting a cash influx from its biggest franchisee &madash; the chain is selling the franchisee nearly 300 corporate-owned locations. [Miami Herald]
• Hey, did you know food trucks are everywhere? Now they’re even in fancy hotels! [USAT]
• The Times tasting panel drinks some beer in honor of the new baseball season. But they oddly focus only on porters. [NYT]
• Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich are opening a location of their super-popular Lupa in Hong Kong. [Lifestyle Asia via Eater NY]
