By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Want to incite an online riot?

Come up with a list of the sites that Hays Daily News staffers think just might be the top 40 places to eat in northwest Kansas.

Then stand back. People with mouse-clicking fingers much stronger than mine have been burning up the Internet, casting votes for the eating spots they simply adore.

That's the only way I can explain what's happening with the Bunker Hill Cafe, Professor's Steakhouse and Saloon in Hays and A&W in Russell.

Those three are burning a proverbial hole in the voting software in use at www.hdnews.net.

It's all part of the 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine, an HDN project that is running parallel to the statewide campaign. Voting in that campaign, sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, ends June 15.

The Hays Daily News, however, came up with its own campaign after the statewide contest included only one eating establishment from northwest Kansas, Crazy R's Bar and Grill in Goodland. We knew there had to be more.

So, here at the HDN, we asked for nominations. They flew in, slowed to a trickle and then grew once again as the deadline drew near.

There were a host of places to eat nominated, and judging from comments received, a few that weren't nominated.

From a list of more than 70, we narrowed it down to 40 and turned the contest over to readers.

We posted the list online Friday, and voting has ensued since then.

Early on, it was a horse race with no single eating establishment taking the lead.

But the Bunker Hill Cafe came out of the pack early, soon followed by cross-county rival A&W. Professor's jumped into the breakaway Sunday, racking up an impressive vote total.

But remember this -- part of the goal of this campaign is to give credit to eating establishments throughout northwest Kansas.

As with the statewide 8 Wonders campaign, the idea is to foster communication about places to go.

That most certainly can include places to eat. We all have to eat, and we all love to eat where the food is good.

Sure, everyone should vote for their favorite spot, but what would it hurt to take a quick run to another spot on the list and sample what they have to offer?

After all, we're looking for the top eight places to eat in northwest Kansas.

And I hope to sample a good many more of them. At last count, I've personally eaten at 20 of the 40 spots, and would recommend them to anyone. They simply offer good food.

As an example, I had the good fortune of dropping by the Gove Community Cafe on Thursday and once again sampling their food. I should have had the Thursday special of chicken, as it looked pretty darn good.

Don's Drive Inn in Oakley was on the itinerary, but obligations elsewhere prevented a stop there en route from Scott State Park and Hays.

As I venture out, my purpose is now two-fold. Find stories and good places to eat.

Can a person go wrong with that combination?

* * *

The following are the top 40 eating establishments in northwest Kansas. From those 40, readers will pick the top eight. To vote, go to www.hdnews.net and click on the weekly poll.

Vernies, Hays

Chubby Pickle, Phillipsburg

Big Eds Steak House, Bird City

Bunker Hill Café, Bunker Hill

Arthur's Pizza, Ellis

Triple C, Glade

Crazy R's Bar and Grill, Goodland

Don's Drive Inn, Oakley

Duffy's, Smith Center

Western Kansas Saloon & Grill, WaKeeney

Al's Chickenette, Hays

JD's Chicken, Hays

Jalisco's, Hays

Taco Shop, Hays

Trish's Steakhouse, Hoxie

Ladow's Market, Lebanon

El Ranchito Cafe, Monument

Palco Grocery and Deli, Palco

A&W, Russell

Meridys, Russell

Jiffy Burger, Smith Center

Park Hill, St. Francis

Aberdeen Steak House and Pub, Atwood

City Limits , Colby

Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Co , Hays

Gutch's, Hays

Guiterrez, Hays

Professor's Steakhouse & Saloon, Hays

K-18 Café, Lucas

Effie's, Rush Center

Midway Cafe, Selden

Second Cup Cafe & Pastries, Smith Center

Duck Blind, Stockton

County Seat Café, Gove

Stephens Restaurant, Sharon Springs

Sub Station, Hill City

Stonehouse Restaurant, Norton

Frontier Restaurant, Oberlin

Pizza Plus, Ness City

The Circle Inn, Osborne