If there’s one thing to be learned from our recent presidential election, it’s that the internet has proven to be an invaluable tool in the pursuit of true democracy. Maybe we’re biased because, you know, we live on the internet, but we think it’s inevitable that soon the powers that be will realize that polling places are a thing of the past, and all federal and state voting will take place via mouseclick.
Unsurprisingly, the food world is ahead of the federal government. Vote early, vote often in two current online polls to assess Chicago culinary dominance! Over at the Reader, it’s all local: It’s time to vote in their annual Best of Chicago awards. The food and drink category has the old standbys (best new restaurant, natch), but also goes into specifics: best place to take a toddler, best foo-foo coffee drink, best buffet, best vegan option. As an incentive to get out the vote (illegal in presidential elections, totally kosher for online food polls), all voters will be entered into a drawing for a pair of three-day passes to this year’s Lollapalooza.
On the national stage, 312DD clues us in to the Bravo A-List awards, where three Chicago nominees show up in the running for “A-List Chef.” The hometown heroes include Guiseppe Trentori of Boka, Koren Grieveson of Avec, and Grant Achatz — who, interestingly (and perhaps tellingly), Bravo doesn’t feel the need to affiliate with his restaurant, Alinea.
Bravo A-List Awards [Official Site, reg req’d]
Best of Chicago 2009 Ballot [Chicago Reader]
[Photo: jenlight/Flickr]
