TODAY IN DISAPPOINTMENT >>>

Lakewood isn't the al fresco dining capital of this state. It's not even in the ballpark. But damn it, it's lovely out and my mood lately screams Vitamin D deficiency. So off I went to Vive Bene, an Italian bistro close to Clover Park High school. While the view of busy Gravelly Lake Drive traffic isn't ideal, their small patio is totally effin under the sun.

Pulling in for a late lunch I see the sadness, three metal outdoor tables chained en masse without any sign of happiness.

Bummer.

Still, pasta or a pannini was on the brain. I popped inside and doubled the occupancy.

Then I ordered a cheeseburger. I don't know. It read fancy with Ciabatta bread and all. And I'm always on the lookout for a good burger.

I'm surprised how quick the burger arrived since the preparation time of my requested medium rare option must have been doubled. It was overcooked, to say the least.

The patty was sliced, stacked and quite dry, not exhibiting much in the way of juiciness; and the bun - its two-inch wide minimalist artistic virtues aside - was completely useless. One bite and it looked like a scene from the Hurt Locker. I went on fork and knife duty.

The only bright spot I can manage was the cheddar cheese - which was nicely melted to the point of appearing like a translucent veil blanketing the disappointing patty.

My point here is not to be overly critical. Surely, bad dining experiences happen. That said, I really effin wanted that perfect experience today. I wanted warm sunshine on my face, flowery scents and fresh flavors - and it wasn't even close.

Vive Bene

11126 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
253.588.8989

TODAY'S SIGN OF SUMMER >>>

Today's Conditions 11 a.m.: Cloudy, 50 degrees, breezy

We snapped this shot of a buffed guy out for run on Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood. Dude is crazy.

Do you have photographic evidence of the time-honored Northwest tradition of people pretending they're in the middle of summer ... when they're clearly not? If so, submit it in our Signs of Summer photo contest.

WE HAVE A TACO CHAMPION >>>

After more than two weeks of voting the Weekly Volcano readers have picked the most popular taco in the greater Tacoma area.

The Tournament of Tacos Championship match pitted two longtime Pierce County Mexican restaurants against each other: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant in Tacoma and Tijuana Taco in Lakewood. Moctezuma's was a narrow hole-in-the-wall joint (next to where JC Penney once stood) on South Tacoma Way in the '70s that eventually made its way to its current grand spot at 56^th and Tyler. Tijuana Taco was born in the late '60s, and battled McDonald's, Shakey's Pizza, and Herfy's for customers on the edge of the Villa Plaza. It's still in the same spot at 10005 Bristol Ave. SW just off 100^th Street.

Yesterday's championship battle saw the most active daytime online voting of the tournament, which ended at 5 p.m. Moctezuma's had a commanding lead by time the voting switched to the 6 p.m. Tournament of Tacos Party at Station 56. At the party people filled out taco voting ballots and rang up $12 tabs for three margaritas and three tacos (thanks Station 56!). The taco voting couldn't help but take a second seat to the outstanding NCAA Men's Championship game in which Duke just squeaked by the underdog Butler. But, as promised, we tallied the on-location votes during halftime of the hoop game and announced the winner: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant. The loose voting during the inexpensive margarita fest at Station 56 didn't affect the huge lead Moctezuma's had going into the party.

Congrats to both worthy competitors.

Moctezuma's will be receiving the Tournament of Tacos Championship trophy once the engraving is finished. Also, look for an upcoming feature on Arturo Garcia's Moctezuma's in the Weekly Volcano. Those who didn't vote for Moctezuma's, we suggest you stop by their Tacoma or Gig Harbor locations to try their outstanding Mexico City tacos.

Thanks to all who voted in the Tournament of Tacos. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

See you next March for ... the Tournament of Pizza!

BENEFIT CONCERT >>>

Carol Parsons was murdered by her ex-husband on March 17, 2010 during a marriage counseling session at a Federal Way church. Read the full story here.

Northwest Music Scene, Northwest Convergence Zone and Music Giving Back will produce a benefit concert for Carol Parsons' children Saturday, April 10 at Happy Days Casino in Lakewood. Rockfish from KZOK will emcee the show that features such bands as Voxxy Vallejo, Deborah Page, O'Dark 30, China Davis and ML3.

Admission to the all-ages show is $12. All proceeds go directly to Carol Parsons family.

[Happy Days Casino, Saturday, April 10, 6 p.m. to midnight, $12, 11521 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253.306.1574]

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - VOTE NOW >>>

The titanic taco throwdown finale in on! Voting for the 2010 Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship game is live right now.

After more than two weeks of voting, you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the greater Tacoma area. What began as 64 taco-slinging joints has been narrowed down to two: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tijuana Taco.

Who do you think has the best tacos: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant or Tijuana Taco?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Voting will close at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. we'll hand out taco voting ballots at our Tournament of Tacos Party inside Station 56 at 56^th and South Tacoma Way. Station 56 will be broadcasting the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game on all its screens while serving dollar tacos and $2 tequila shots. Throughout the first half of the game we'll be handing our taco voting ballots for a final push of voting. At half time of the hoop game, we'll announce the winner of the 2010 Tournament of Tacos. Then there will be much rejoicing.

Confused? Click here for an explanation of our Tournament of Tacos.

Favorites or underdogs, fancy restaurants or taco trucks, it's all the same. In the end, they all have one chance to put some meat on a tortilla that can take the prize. That's the nature of the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Tacos.

Yesterday's Final Cuatro match-ups

GAME 1: Taqueria El Rinconsito vs. Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant

GAME 2: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Tijuana Taco

The Final Cuatro voting was a little puzzling. Blame it on Good Friday, the weather, or the announcement the American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdardwill reunite with runner-upClay Aiken for a summer tour that will bring the joy the Snoqualmie Casino July 29 - whatever the reason, the voting crept along in the morning hours. Then, around happy hour, the voting exploded actually reversing the leads for both games.

With the second largest tally of votes in the tournament  - and, as we mentioned, a fairly close tally through two-thirds of the day - Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tijuana Taco managed to knock Taqueria El Rinconsito and Taqueria Burrito Loco out of the Readers' Poll.

In the end, old school ruled.

In 1978 Arturo Garcia opened Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant in a hole-in-the wall establishment on South Tacoma Way. Slowly Moctezuma's built a loyal fanbase and in 1988 Garcia moved his restaurant to its present location at 4102 S. 56th St. in Tacoma. Garcia opened a second location at 4803 Point Fosdick Dr. NW in Gig Harbor.

Tijuana Taco "Fine Mexican Food" has been serving Lakewood tacos and other fast Mexican fare for 41 years from its tiny spot at 10005 Bristol Ave. SW. In 1969 Rocky Van Scyoc opened the restaurant next to the Villa Plaza (now Lakewood Towne Center) working in the kitchen, serving food and busing tables. His daughter, Kelli Van Scyoc-Gomez, now runs the restaurant.

Championship Game

Monday morning is the date to vote for the biggest match of all, the battle across Pierce County, the titanic taco throwdown finale, the 2010 Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship. We'll launch the voting platform in the wee hours Monday, April 5. At 5 p.m. we'll close the online poll and move the voting process to our taco party at 6 p.m. inside Station 56 at 56^th and South Tacoma Way. Load up the car with friends and head for the this restaurant housed in a large brick building in the Historic South Tacoma Neighborhood. Station 56 will be broadcasting the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game on all its screens while serving dollar tacos and $2 tequila shots. Nice. Throughout the first half of the game we'll be handing our taco voting ballots for a final push of voting. At half time of the hoop game, we'll announce the winner of the Tournament of Tacos.

Will it be massive Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant or tiny Tijuana Taco? That's your call.

VOTE BELOW >>>

Tacoma loves tacos - at least according to the thousands that have voted in our Tournament of Tacos. Yesterday's taco voting action doubled the previous highest vote count for a single day. And local favorites fell. They fell hard. Every winner yesterday won by capturing 60 to 65 percent of the votes.

What four taco-slinging joints will move onto the Final Cuatro?

The drum roll please ...

Thanks to your votes, we've narrowed down the Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll to the Final Cuatro: Taqueria El Rinconsito, Moctezuma's, Taqueria Burrito Loco and Tijuana Taco.

Let's remember that every taco that made it into the tourney is worth a nosh. Still, someone's gotta win. We started with 64 of the greater Tacoma area's best shells. Now, these four titanic tacos face off for the ultimate glory - shell to shell battles to determine the best taco in the greater Tacoma area. Which Mexican restaurant has the moxie to nail down the championship? Whose taco will win it all?

Today's Final Cuatro match-ups are these:

GAME 1: Taqueria El Rinconsito vs. Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant

GAME 2: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Tijuana Taco

How do you vote? It's easy! Just click here. You may vote once. The poll is open to 11:45 p.m.

We'll post updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the day. We'll announce the two winners tomorrow morning. The final championship games will take place Monday, April 5. We'll announce the winner at our Tournament of Tacos party that night inside Station 56 in Tacoma.

Who will reign supreme? As we have learned during this readers' poll — anything's possible. Prepare for the unexpected.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Address information for the Final Cuatro:

Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant, 4102 S. 56th St., Tacoma, 253.474.5593

Taqueria El Rinconsito, 72^nd and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 253.671.1876

Taqueria Burrito Loco, 5502 Orchard St., University Place, 253.474.1433

Tijuana Taco, 10005 Bristol Ave. SW, Lakewood, 253.588.4621.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Join the Weekly Volcano online community here.

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 (NO JOKE) >>>

The Elote Eight is fully fleshed out: Vuelve a la Vida, Taqueria El Rinconsito, El Toro, Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant, Taqueria La Fondita, Taqueria Burrito Loco, Top of Tacoma Bar and Café, and Tijuana Taco. Eight establishments that - according to our readers' poll - serve the best tacos in the greater Tacoma area.

It's all come down to Elote Eight (elote is roasted corn on the cob served on the streets of Mexico City - seemed like a brilliant idea during the creation of this tournament). All the signs in the restaurants, the mass emailings to customers and friends, the taco phone trees have paid off for these eight taco slingers. It's now crunch (or crunchy shell) time for the taco royalty.

Let's break it down the games:

GAME 1: Vuelve a la Vida vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Only 14,482 Old El Paso Super Stuffer taco shells end-to-end separate Vuelve from El Rinconsito on Pacific Avenue. It's safe to say this battle is for taco bragging rights on Pacific Avenue - a street we all have discovered during this tournament houses hundreds of tacos. These are two of the best.

GAME 2: El Toro vs. Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant

Here we go. Both of these local chain restaurants serve big plates of food. Both have rallied their loyal fans to vote. Both have slaughtered their competitors every game. The both serve giant margaritas, which is nice.

GAME 3: Taqueria La Fondita vs. Taqueria Burrito Loco

Taco truck in a gravel parking lot that sports AstroTurf-ish carpeting takes on a strip mall joint hidden behind a gas station. But we know it's about the tacos, and both of these championships have the right stuffing.

GAME 4: Top of Tacoma Bar and Café vs. Tijuana Taco

OK, here we go. This bare-knuckled brawl will be similar to an open-topped car race, moving at speeds upwards of 120 mph on Interstate 5, ending on a giant-sized ramp that will hurl the vehicles over the Tacoma Dome, and splashing into Commencement Bay. The winner will be the one with the most life buoys tossed at it. Yes, just like that.

It's taco voting time folks. Click here and vote for your favorites.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 >>>

Over the past two weeks we've pitted 64 of the greater Tacoma area's best tacos against one another in the mother of all taco brackets. You've seen the carnage: No. 1 seeds fell, powerhouses butted heads, and surprise shells made a run at the prize.

The final round of the Spicy 16 was held yesterday - a day that saw the most votes cast to date. Here were the match-ups:

Taqueria El Rinconsito vs. Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant

Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant vs. Tacos Guaymas

La Huerta International Market #2 vs. Taqueria Burrito Loco

Tijuana Taco vs. Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery

Who advances to the Elote Eight? Which tacos took the popular vote?

Find out after the break:

Read more...

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28 >>>

This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die - one misstep and you're out of the dance. Burn the tortilla, add a few too chopped onions or clump the cheese, and you can pack your skillet and cry into your canned tomatoes.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Los Tres Hermonos vs. MI Taqueria

Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Yesterday's battle on Pacific Avenue came down to two points. Taqueria El Rinconsito edged out the colorful Josefina's to advance to the Spicy 16. Is Josefina's neon light in the window too loud? Are the walls too bright?

In the largest victory margin to date in this tournament, Moctezuma's destroyed Azteca with 88.2 percent of the vote. One voter wrote, "Moctezuma's tacos al carbon are muy delicioso."

In the third game, the popular Los Tres Hermanos taco truck edged out MI Taqueria with 62.5 percent of the vote.

You can kiss the national franchise taco joints goodbye. Lakewood's Tijuana Taco knocked the last national chain – Taco Bell – out of the tournament by grabbing 74 percent of the vote. The voters claimed Tijuana Taco's fresh, healthy ingredients as the main reason why the voted for the long time Lakewood joint. The second reason for the win according to the voters' comments is their happy, polite staff.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.