At jane's, which has had a lock on this category in the Best of Food poll for years, it's creativity and passion that are the special of the day. Of every day, really. With both a clientele and a staff that is loyal, owner Jane Wright has found the winning set of ingredients for a great place to eat. And speaking of the special of the day, she insists that it be fresh, not as a way to use old ingredients, a popular trick in some other restaurants. The new addition to jane's this year is the take-out counter, called jane's next door. It offers the same philosophy with a different menu, including fair trade coffee, sticky buns and a variety of sandwiches. 2394 Robie, 431-5683
First runner up: Chives
Second runner up: The Wooden Monkey