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

Nats Park Food Fest!

Meet Nationals Park Executive Chef Terry Louzon...

Ball park food is not just peanuts and Cracker Jacks anymore... right Vanessa?

And hot dogs have gotten a lot fancier since we were all kids.

For example, the Philly Dog at the Taste of the Majors food stand at Nats Parks comes complete with melted cheese, red & green bell peppers and big kick in the taste buds.

Ooh! The hometown favorite: The Nats Dog is a spicy take on the half smoke with onions and mustard.

The Mets dog came with sauerkraut, chili, mustard... it's like a party in your mouth!

Hot dogs and hot guys! Now that's what I call a HOME RUN!!!

Back to the food: Chef Terry with the 2 pound pretzel and 3 dipping sauces! Ridiculous!

Markette! Now that's what I call finger lickin' good!

On the lighter side, Nationals Park has parfaits for the health conscious...

And veggie wraps, too!

Racing prez "Tom" Jefferson steals a smooch from Vanessa.

Hats off to you chef!

Don't get it twisted: This pretzel connoisseur is a retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army who says D.C. sports fans are a tougher crowd than the U.S. Military!

Check back soon for the full on-camera interview with Chef Terry about what's new in food at Nats Park! Find it only on DC 50, home of the CW!

xoxo,

Markette & Vanessa

Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Martinis, Nat's Park food tasting, and Celebrity Deoppelganger

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO: BUT WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?

Well let's be honest, for most of us it means consuming copious amounts of Coronas, and margaritas (with salt, extra lime) and trying to leave work a little early so we can head over to our favorite mexican restaurant. Which hey, if you love tequila and tacos like me, this may just be one of your favorite days of the year. But the real reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo or the 5th of May (if you couldn't figure that out then you need to seriously brush up on your Spanish) is to commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Contrary to what most people think, it is NOT Mexico's Independence Day. While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. And to show my mexican pride (Ok I'm not mexican, but I lived there for three years, so that counts) I leave you with the best recipe you will ever have for a Mexican Martini. Follow closely and enjoy!

• 2 oz. Tequila – Use a good silver tequila. (I prefer aged tequilas too for an oakier taste so you can use a reposado or anejo tequila as well)
• 1 1/2 oz. Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
• 2 oz. Lime Juice. Don’t use a mix for this drink. Sweet and Sour will ruin it.
• 1 oz. Orange Juice.
• 1 splash Sprite
• 1 splash olive juice – or more to taste.
• Jalapeno stuffed olives!

How To Make It: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake it and strain it into a BIG cocktail glass with a salted rim. Spear a few jalapeno stuffed olives and garnish the drink. Serve it up.This is a really delicious drink that packs quite a punch. You can experiment until you get what you feel is the right blend of flavors. Certain people I know like it with a LOT of olive juice. That variation of the drink we call the Dirty Mexican. But use these guidelines when experimenting:

• Use good tequila
• NEVER use sweet and sour
• Jalapeno stuffed olives really pimp the drink out.
• Glass: Big Cocktail glass

UPCOMING OR UP AND COMING: NATS PARK FOOD TASTING

Markette and I are headed to Nats Park to meet with executive chef Terry Louzon and taste test all the different foods. Yum so excited!! Tweet or Facebook us your questions!

CELEBRITY DOPPELGANGER: KELLY ANN COLLINS

Did you drink too many mexican martinis? Well whether or not you did you still may confuse Kelly Ann with her #1 celebrity look-alike coming in at a strong 90% Amanda Peet Close behind with 80% range across the board are celebs -- Michelle Rodriguez, Denise Richards, Kristanna Loken, Fernanda Tavarez, and Katherine Heigl to name a few. So what do you think how dead on was the face recognition this week?