>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 23 <<<

Now it's getting exciting. The syrup is really starting to spread, and the batter is getting so thick you could cut it with a knife (OK, so that's a horrible analogy ...).

Point is: This is serious.

Today the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Breakfast officially kicks off its second round, meaning only 32 South Sound breakfast joints remain, and the competition is as hot as ever. Who will be crowned champ on April 2? The path to breakfast greatness starts today.

Here's a look at today's Tournament of Breakfast action and a recap of yesterday's closing of round one. Shake some powdered sugar on it if you know what's good for you and get rolling.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Alfred's Cafe (Tacoma) vs. Scoreboard Pub (Federal Way)

Elmer's Pancake and Steakhouse (Tacoma) vs. Ricky J's Restaurant (Tacoma) 

Mystic Mocha (Graham) vs. Poodle Dog (Fife)

Original Pancake House (Puyallup) vs. Johnny's Dock (Tacoma)

In basketball terminology, Alfred's Cafe was on fire from the three-pioint line. It shot 72 percent from the arc, the same percentage points it scored above the Scoreboard Pub at the final buzzer. What's most impressive about Alfred's win? It didn't have to use its Bubble Room Lounge in the victory.

In the simplest of terms, Elmer's Pancake and Steakhouse supporters failed to turn out for the Thursday competition, allowing die-hard breakfast aficionados to propel Ricky J's in Puyallup into a battle with Alfred's Cafe on March 24.

In an outcome that's no surprise for anyone who's experienced the massive fan base of the Poodle Dog, Fife's favorite breakfast joint dominated the polls, with 60 votes over Graham's Mystic Mocha. The Poodle Dog moves on to face Johnny's Dock on March 24.

Holy crap! Turnout for this contest was like the turnout at a kick-the-banker booth at the county fair! Both the Original Pancake House and Johnny's Dock did their darndest to mobilize their base, and though the Original Pancake House ran out to an early lead, Johnny's Dock fans had the stamina to carry through the evening and snatch victory from Puyallup's, well, original pancake house. Johnny's Dock moves into the second round with 55 percent of the votes.

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

• Alfred's Cafe
  
• Ricky J's Restaurant
  
• Poodle Dog
  
• Johnny's Dock
  

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

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