There’s been a fierce battle here in the Northwest for the title of FOOD & WINE magazine’s The People’s Best New Chef.  In a friendly competition NW nominees have extravagantly taken it to the tops of buildings (Canlis with their outstanding, fashion-like photo shoots at breathtaking locations such as atop the Space Needle). And in a more demure fashion (behind the bar, at Tavern Law and Belltown’s Spur, where Seattle’s cocktail crowd has been clamoring for the $4 drinks created in ode to their Chefs’ Brian McCracken and Dana Tough’s nomination for the award). 

The $4 “Ballot Box” cocktail by bartender Nathan Weber of Tavern Law (named in The Top 25 Bars in America by GQ magazine in October) is on the menu through tonight at 11:59 pm when the voting STOPS online. Nominated Chefs McCracken and Tough created their own cocktail at their other property, Spur, that they’re calling “The Little Engine”.  The screens at Spur and Tavern Law are showing the live results of the voting results on their walls each night.  (They’re just barely behind those amazing marketers, the Canlises—so they really want more votes!) 

In a scrappy, low tech groundswell of support profile pictures saying “I VOTED McCRACKEN TOUGH” are popping up on Facebook and Twitter.  FOOD & WINE and CNN’s voting page and its online message board is abuzz with comments and the talk is big on Twitter and Facebook as well.  The Canlis clan just sent out their second email to a database that reaches tens of thousands, so we’re hoping to heat this battle up even more.  Vote McCracken Tough! 

Chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough are two Seattle chefs who work side-by-side as co-owners and co-chefs of both Spur and Tavern Law.  In less than three years they have racked up honors such as: Rising Star Chefs, Star Chefs 2010. 2010 Innovation Award, Seattle Weekly. Nation’s Top 5 Rising Chefs 2010, Gayot. Spur: Food & Wine mag “Where to Go Next” list of the world’s top spots. Daily Beast: 10 Best New Restaurants of the Year, July 2010. Tavern Law: 25 Best Bars in America, GQ October 2010.  Top 5 Secret Hot Spots in the World, Worth Magazine March 2011.

VOTE online via www.tavernlaw.com by midnight and stop by and visit with your neighbors while the votes roll in!