DC Food Contest Winners Announced!

Last month, DC on Heels and Dining in DC announced the Ultimate Restaurant Week giveaway by offering five lucky readers a chance to win a $75 dining gift certificate.

We asked our readers, "Is Restaurant Week a DEAL or NO DEAL?"

And boy, did you tell us! Your submissions really put DC Restaurant Week to the test.

As specified in the original rules: There were five winners selected to win at $75 dining gift certificate. Three winners were chosen based on their photos and explanation of their dining experience. One winner was chosen at random as a subscriber to Dining in DC. One winner was chosen at random from the DC on Heels Facebook page.

The winners are as follows:

Lisa's Pick: Caitlin Smith

Caitlin is well versed in writing up her dining experiences as a contributing writer to the Capital Cooking Show blog and it showed. For DC Restaurant Week, Caitlin dined at The Blue Duck Tavern for lunch. She said, "the service at the restaurant was fabulous. We were well taken care of and our waiter made us feel right at home."

After stuffing herself with an appetizer and main course, she said she "although everything we ate was delicious, nothing compares to the Apple Pie (see photo on right). I fell in love with first bite and had to stop myself from eating all of it!

Outside the weather was dreary but inside The Blue Duck Tavern everything was warm and inviting. We cannot wait to go back and enjoy another enticing meal. I thought it was a terrific deal!" She and her guest each got a three course lunch for $44.20 (includes tax). You can read her full review with photos on the blog.

Markette's Pick: Becca Clara Love

Becca of Bitches Who Brunch (love that name!) did a bang up job writing up her "DEAL or NO DEAL" review of Chef Geoff's Restaurant Week special. She told us in her submission that it was a DEAL because RW diners could order anything on the menu for appetizer, entree (including the rib eye steak) and dessert... for only $35.10!

Becca also said that Chef Geoff's didn't skimp on the portions, and she had the photos to prove it -- she submitted 14 pics in all.

"From the wedge salad, to the salmon tartare, to the duck - and that's just for apps. For dinner we had lobster, halibut, tuna, and steak. Oh my, it was amazing," she said.

She also said that her party of 6 received superb service during all three courses, which I can imagine for the waiter was a tough job for bunch of "bitches who brunch" ;)

Vanessa's Pick: Angelica Mar

Angelica's visit during restaurant week was to one of DC's best known restaurants - DC Coast and it left her saying it was a "TOTAL DEALIO."

DC Coast is known for it's delectable seafood but on the menu for Angelica's visit were options like fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and fresh corn polenta. Angelica says DC Coast offered many items that were NOT usually on the menu.

Angelica says "Overall, a consistent Rest Week winner - my friends and I will now have to make DC Coast one of our must visits" Read below to get all the details of Angelica's visit.

DC on Heels Facebook Fan Winner: Jamie Gulin, Washington, D.C.

Dining in DC Subscriber Winner: Jess Tunon, Arlington, Va.

WINNERS: Please e-mail dcfoodcontest@gmail.com to claim your $75 dining gift certificate prize!

Congratulations to all of the winners! Thank you for all of your submissions and our restaurant sponsors who donated the gift certificates: Capital Restaurant Concepts, Buddha-Bar DC, Thunder Burger and Bar, Sushi Rock.

xoxo,

Markette (written in collaboration with Vanessa and Lisa)

Win a $75 Gift Certificate to Dine FREE in DC!

DC on Heels and Dining in DC are teaming up for the ultimate Restaurant Week giveaway!

Enter to win one of five $75 dining gift certificates to some of the hottest eateries in town -- that's TWICE the cost of a three-course dinner during Restaurant Week!

DC Restaurant Week, sponsored by Destination DC and the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, occurs twice a year when restaurants are typically slow (usually in January and then again in late summer, usually August).

Many restaurants welcome Restaurant Week as a way to drum up new business, especially from savvy foodies who jump at the chance to get a great deal at a top DC area restaurant.

"There's no better time than Restaurant Week to see what the D.C. culinary scene has to offer," said Elliott Ferguson, president & CEO of Washington's tourism agency, Destination DC.

Participating restaurants offer a special prix-fixe menu for the entire week. Lunch is $20.10 for three courses and dinner, three courses as well, is $35.10 (prices do not include tax or gratuity). In addition, some restaurants extend the promotion for up to an entire month.

So what do you think? Is DC Restaurant Week a deal or no deal? You tell us!

How to participate:

1. Dine out during Restaurant Week and take pictures of your meal.

2. Send the photos, along with the price of the meal and an explanation of whether or not you think it was a "Deal or No Deal" to dcfoodcontest@gmail.com (Click here for an example of Deal or No Deal). Submissions are due no later than midnight, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. Please include your name and telephone number.

3. You must be a Facebook Fan of DC on Heels and Subscribe to Dining in DC for a chance to win.

4. Five (5) lucky winners will be announced on Dining in DC and DC on Heels on Friday, Sept. 10, 2010.
- At least one (1) winner will be selected at random that is a Facebook fan of DC on Heels.
- At least one (1) winner will be selected at random from the Dining in DC subscriber list.
- The other three (3) winners will be selected based on their "Deal or No Deal" submission.

Rules:

Only amateur photographers are eligible. One entry per person.

Prizes include:

1. One (1) $75 dining gift certificate to Capital Restaurant Concepts (for use at any of their area eateries, such as J. Paul's, Old Glory, Georgia Browns, etc.)

2. Two (2) $75 dining gift certificates to Buddha-Bar DC

3. One (1) $75 dining gift certificate to Thunder Burger and Bar

4. One (1) $75 dining gift certificate to Sushi Rock

So what are you waiting for? Check out the list of participating restaurants, their menus, and send us your "Deal or NO Deal" submissions. Hurry! Deadline is midnight on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010.

Good Luck!

xoxo,

Markette

P.S. - RESTAURANTS & BARS: to become a sponsor of DC on HEELS, contact: dconheels@gmail.com

DC Restaurant Week: Show me your "Deals" and "No Deals"

Washington's dining scene heats up as Restaurant Week comes back to the District August 16-22.

(Check out the Restaurant Round-up here).

"There's just a tremendous amount of excitement over D.C.'s restaurant scene right now with recent shows like Top Chef, DC Cupcakes and Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives shining a spotlight on Washington, D.C.," said Elliott Ferguson, president & CEO of Washington's tourism agency, Destination DC.

In addition to those oh-so popular "foodie" programs, D.C. restaurants are also the backdrop for the mother of all hit cable-reality programs -- The Real Housewives of DC.
The show premieres August 5 and the ladies of the popular Bravo franchise have already been spotted filming in several restaurants in and around Georgetown and downtown.

Restaurant Week prices are fixed at $20.10 for lunch or $35.10 for dinner (both come with three courses)... but is eating at the same steak house as the White House party crasher-turned-housewife really worth a dub and some change for lunch?

Ferguson seems to think so: "There's no better time than Restaurant Week to see what the D.C. culinary scene has to offer," said Ferguson.

What do you think? Is this a deal or no deal?

You Tell Me

For the past six months I've been going around to different restaurants taking pictures of the food in my ongoing series Deal or No Deal. But now, I'd like to flip the script and have you tell me.

Here's how to participate:

1. Go out during Restaurant Week and take pictures of your food.
   
2. Send the photos, along with the price of the meal to me at: dconheels@gmail.com.
   
3. Stay tuned to the DC on HEELS blog where I will post your food pics and discuss whether or not you got a deal.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the list of participating restaurants (www.restaurantweekdc.org) and send us your "DEAL or NO DEAL" submissions.

xoxo,


Markette

P.S. - Featured restaurants include the culinary creation of the former chef to Oprah Winfrey, Art & Soul; Acadiana, frequented by First Lady Michelle Obama; J&G Steakhouse, located inside the new W Hotel in downtown D.C.; and The Jockey Club, which is known to be a favorite of the political elite.

Become a sponsor of DC on HEELS! For more details, contact:
dconheels@gmail.com

Deal or No Deal? Buffalo Chicken Sliders, $7.95

Buffalo Chicken Sliders, $7.95

I know what you're thinking: "$7.95, that ain't bad." But actually seeing these bite-sized "boy-guhs" in person may have you singing a different tune.

While the buffalo chicken sliders are extremely tasty, they are also extremely bite-sized -- I'm talking about no bigger than a large hush puppie.

And, yes, while it is only an appetizer, the other thing that kind of annoys me about this dish is that it comes with only 3 sliders. Since I was splitting the plate with someone else, we had to play the awkward game of: "You take the last bite." -- "No, you take it." -- with neither one of us not really meaning it (you know how that goes).

Is it too much to ask for an even portion of 4 sliders for the same price of $7.95?

I dunno, I'm just a hungry patron. What do you think? Deal or No Deal?

Here are some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Price: $7.95

Restaurant: The Heights

Cuisine: Traditional American Fare

Neighborhood: Columbia Heights, Northwest DC

What the menu tells you you'll get: "Buffalo Chicken Sliders w. Provolone"

What I actually got: 3 tasty, but small white meat buffalo chicken sliders which, when put together, doesn't even amount to a whole chicken breast.

Would you order this? Is this a Deal or No Deal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

xoxo,

--Markette

P.S. - For more "Deal or No Deals," click here.

Deal or No Deal? Grilled Shrimp + Shark Empanadas, $23.70

Grilled Shrimp + Shark Empanadas, $23.70

I was directed to this restaurant after arriving at Market 28, a tourist trap of a shopping center in downtown Cancun. I asked my cab driver where the best Mexican food was and he sent me to El Cejas, which literally means "The Eyebrows."

There, I was met by a straight-faced, burly man with bushy eyebrows standing behind a cash register. Apparently, he was the bean counter (no pun intended), the owner, and the inspiration behind the restaurant's peculiar name.

This marked the beginning of a culinary adventure that - although tasty - put a serious dent into my shopping budget...

I was impressed by the main course, considering it was from a food stand at an open-air market with pictures on its menu...

And the appetizer was tasty, too!

(Deep fried empanadas filled with shark meat -- tastes like chicken)

But, I dunno. Is $23.70 too much to pay for a meal from a place with pictures on its menu?

What do you think? Is this a DEAL or NO DEAL? Here are some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: Grilled Shrimp and Shark Empanadas for an appetizer.

Price: $23.70

Restaurant: El Cejas

Cuisine: Mexican

Neighborhood: Market 28, Cancun Centro, Mexico

What the menu tells you you'll get: Since this is a place with pictures on its menu, it was a "what you see is what you get" type of set up

What I actually got: Seven medium-sized shrimp (shell and eyes still attached topped with a garlic sauce, a cup-sized portion of Mexican rice and steamed vegetables.

The appetizer came with three small empanadas filled with shark meat.

So what's your opinion: Deal or no deal? Post your thoughts in the comments section.

xoxo,

Markette

Deal or No Deal? Lobster at Labná

Lobster, $410 pesos ($32.80 in U.S. Dollars)

During my recent trip to Cancun, Mexico - also known as the "Riviera Maya" for its rich history of Mayan culture - I heard the fruits of the sea calling my name, so I ordered the lobster. But for $410 pesos -- which equals out to about $32.80 -- I can't but help to wonder if I threw my money into the sea!

What do you think? Is this a deal or no deal?

Here are some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: The Lobster

Price: $410 pesos or $32.80

Restaurant: Labná

Cuisine: not your run-of-the-mill-Mexican food; the menu boasts delights specific to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Neighborhood: Cancun Centro (where the locals live, eat and play).

What the menu tells you you'll get: "lobster with black beans, guacamole and chips"

What I actually got: a one pound juicy lobster tail with the meat already taken out by the chef. It was drenched in a red butter and garlic sauce (not sure why it was red), but it was GOOD! It also came with a palm sized portion of black beans and guacamole, each adorned with three three crispy tortilla chips.

The lobster was succulent and flavorful, but $30 bucks?!?! Isn't Mexico supposed to be cheap?

What's your opinion: deal or no deal? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

xoxo,

Markette

P.S. - Get more "DEAL OR NO DEAL?" by clicking here.

Deal or No Deal? 2 Pound Pretzel, $20

The Victory Knot, as much as $20*

"TTS" was first introduced the $16 Victory Knot (also known as the 2 POUND PRETZEL) during an interview with Nationals Park Executive Chef Terry Louzon.

"We call that our 'Wow' item this year," said Chef Terry.

"Wow" is right. Made from 2 pounds of dough, the Victory Knot comes with three dipping sauces (vanilla & cinnamon crème, beer cheese and chipotle mustard).

A creation of Levy restaurants, the official food vendor of Washington's Nationals Park and other ball parks like L.A.'s Dodgers Stadium and Dallas' American Airlines Center, the pretzel can cost as much as $20 depending on where you buy it.

Because Chef Terry is a former military man (retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army), I know he's used to making manly meals for hungry soldiers, but a pretzel made from 2 pounds of dough?!?!

Indulgent or just plain ridiculous?

As Vanessa and I taste-tested the dipping sauces and pretzel, I began to ponder the thought of whether or not a pretzel is actually worth more than a ticket to a baseball game itself? (Tickets can be as cheap as $5 for seating in the Grandstand section of Nats Park.)

I dunno, what do you think? Here's some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: The Victory Knot

Price: $16 at Nationals Park, but can be as much as $20 (it varies from city to city; for example in Dallas you get the pretzel and 2 sodas for $20)

Restaurant: At Nats Park, you can order it at The Red Loft Bar above the Red Porch

Cuisine: All-American ballpark staples, plus a few gourmet items

Neighborhood: Southeast DC/Nationals Park

What the menu tells you you'll get: "Victory Knot"

What I actually got: served in a medium-sized pizza box, I got a massive salted pretzel and three generous portions of dipping sauces (vanilla & cinnamon crème, beer cheese and chipotle mustard). Can easily serve 4 people.

So what's your opinion: Deal or no deal? Post your thoughts in the comments section.

xoxo,

Markette

Deal or No Deal? Uncle Bill's Potatoes Del Riego

Potatoes Del Riego, $8

To you, it may look like a heart attack on a plate. But for me, it was breakfast!

Uncle Bill's Pancake House is my favorite neighborhood dive and I make it a point to go every time I go back to my hometown in Southern California.

While I usually get pancakes because (1) they are delicious, (2) they are reasonably priced and (3) that's what they're famous for, on this visit I decided to change it up when I saw everybody eating this mountain of cheese, potatoes, bacon and avocados instead of the house special.

But is a dish of potatoes and cheese, and a couple of slices of avocado, really worth almost $10 bucks?

Here are some details to help you decide if this a deal or no deal:

Menu Item: Potatoes Del Riego

Price: $8

Restaurant: Uncle Bill's Pancake House

Cuisine: Traditional American Fare

Neighborhood: Manhattan Beach, Calif./Manhattan Beach Pier

What the menu tells you you'll get: "Hash browns sauteed with crumbled bacon and melted cheese, topped with sour cream. Add in bell peppers, onions and avocado. For those with a BIGGER appetite"

What I actually got: nearly of pound of diced potatoes, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream, bell peppers, onions and avocado slices piled high into a stroganoff-like dish.

So what's your opinion: Deal or no deal? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

--Markette

Deal or No Deal? Tackle Box's Lobster Roll

Lobster Roll, $19

The sign outside of the Tackle Box, a casual dining spot located in the heart of Georgetown's shopping district, says they have "World Famous Lobster Rolls." But at nearly $20 a pop is this meal a deal or no deal?

Here are some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: Lobster Roll

Price: $19

Restaurant: Tackle Box

Cuisine: New England Style American Fare & Seafood

Neighborhood: Georgetown/M Street

What the menu says you'll get: "Lobster Roll" (That's it - no description)

What I actually got: a crisp and lightly buttered French roll (about the size of a 6-inch Subway sandwich) stuffed with chunks of lobster meat atop a basket of fries.

While my taste buds were certainly satisfied, I couldn't help but wonder if my pocket book had taken an unnecessary hit in the name of those glorified critters that crawl on the bottom of the ocean so commonly referred to as, "a delicacy."

What's your opinion: Is this lobster roll a deal or no deal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

--Markette

Deal or No Deal? Fusion's Tandori Shrimp

Tandori [Grill] Shrimp, $15

You know how it is when you go to a restaurant and order a shrimp dinner -- you could get one shrimp, two shrimp, three shrimp or four. They could be big, they could be small, but one thing is for certain: the shrimp dinner is always one of the most expensive items on the menu, regardless of how much shrimp the restaurant actually gives you.

So here's the question: Is the dinner pictured above a deal or no deal?

Here are some details to help you decide:

Menu Item: Tandori [Grill] Shrimp

Price: $15

Restaurant: Fusion

Cuisine: Indian

Neighborhood: Georgia Avenue/Petworth

What the menu tells you you'll get: "prawns, ginger, garlic & mild spices"

What I actually got: three large shrimp, a decorative strip of ginger-garlic sauce and an ice cream scoop sized portion of basmati rice. (No sauce for the rice).

So what's your opinion: Deal or no deal? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

--Markette