Durham's referendum on a 1 percent meals tax sank like my mother's gefilte fish. (and that's why Jewish cooking never took off). So why is the Durham & Convention Bureau still upbeat about it?

n a release this afternoon, the bureau says the referendum still received as many yes votes as “any successful measure or official in last year’s local election.” With more time and public education, they say they can win next time.

"Passage this go around was a long shot," the bureau says. "While garnering an unprecedented 31 endorsements from a full spectrum of community organizations, the referendum was doomed by a state stipulation forcing it into a general election with only a few weeks for public education. Public education was further stymied by a severe economic downturn and well funded Raleigh operatives fueling misinformation and interfering in another community’s local affairs."

Proponents say they may begin working to reintroduce the tax as soon as the next few months.

If you're heading out to eat around Durham, be on the lookout for these notable blue signs protesting the county's proposed 1-percent foods tax.

The blue "No Food Tax" signs, like this one seen in the window of Fishmonger's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, refer viewers to this Web site.

Voters will be given the opportunity Nov. 4 to decide whether the county levies the tax, which would apply to prepared food and beverages at restaurants and some items at grocery stores. Read more in a Jim Wise story here.

(Fishmonger's owner Gary Bass is out of town and unavailable for comment.)