Feud With Popular Chef Boils Over

Domenica Macchia – one of the more celebrated and written-about chefs in St. Pete – has been put on hiatus. At least in Pinellas County.

A judge has imposed a temporary injunction against Macchia, who signed a noncompete contract with former employer, Three Birds Tavern, according to The Tampa Bay Times.

The injunction is in place until a final ruling is reached; the judge is expected to talk with both parties before rendering a decision.

The contract, for now, is supposed to be enforced until Feburary 2014, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

Three Birds owners Robin and Jack King filed a lawsuit against Macchia after she left her post as chef at the 4th Street North restaurant.

Macchia left Three Birds to work at Beak's St. Petersburg, which was updating its menu.

The Kings apparently said not so fast, since their former chef had signed a noncompete aggrement when she signed on as chef at their restaurant.

Macchia formerly worked at the following St. Pete restaurants: Redwoods, MJ's, Diner 437, BellaBrava and Shackleton's Folly.

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