>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 17 <<<<

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Remember, today is a marathon, not a sprint. Especially if you plan to start early, water and even a couple snacks deserve a reserved space in your plaid fanny pack. In fact, hacktheday.com offers an excellent guide on how to drink properly. They suggest never to drink on an empty stomach, make your own decisions when it comes to volume of consumption, sip don't chug, try not to mix types of alcohol (liquor, beer, wine, etc.), eat oily food and if you feel sick, excuse yourself to the port-o-john for a refreshing upchuck.

We say kick off your St. Patrick's Day with a tasty breakfast.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

The Tournament of Breakfast was seeded by readers' votes through the month of February. Norma's Burgers received the most votes, placing it in the Number One position in the South region. It's no surprise then that Norma's grabbed 75.6 percent of the votes. Eastside Big Tom was sent packing.

Yes, Sage's Brunch House's potato pancakes are seriously delicious. So is the migas - a mix of red and ancho peppers, garlic, beans, corn tortillas, onions, eggs and Portuguese sausage. However, what also might have contributed to Sage's win over Budd Bay Café, grabbing 55.6 percent of the votes, is Sage's awesome selection of kid's toys. Parents know whiny kids can kill a pancake zen.

While River's Edge has the serene view of a golf course, Hawk's Prairie Restaurant serves stiff drinks and ginormous portions. With nearly 60 percent of the votes, Hawk's moves into the Second Round.

The Black Bear Diner is part of a chain that spans a good chunk of the West Coast. Maybe 80 stores as of this writing, according to its website. Its large portions for low prices really strike a chord with a good chunk of the local populace, as put a hurt on the Red Wind Casino grabbing 62 percent of the votes. The Black Bear Diner faces off with Hawk's Prairie Restaurant March 25 in Second Round action.

Let's take a look at the griddle iron. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Norma's Burgers
  
• Sage's Brunch House
  
• Hawk's Prairie Restaurant
  
• Black Bear Diner
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's First Round breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.