Photo of Chelsea's High Line park: Flickr/JessyeAnne

How’s this for a dilemma: You’re in New York and you have a foodie’s palate, but a writer’s wallet. What’s a gourmand to do? The answer: Lunch. Many of the city’s epicurean hot spots offer a wallet-friendly prixe fixe during the daytime hours—even outside of Restaurant Week. It’s not quite the same as a romantic candlelight dinner, but what’s better, a sublime experience in the daylight, or a mediocre meal after sunset? Here are our picks for the city’s lunchtime deals:

La Silhouette: This unassuming three-month-old spot in the depths of Hell’s Kitchen is run by the affable Sally Chironis and Tito Rahman, former managers of Le Bernardin. Without a sign outside, or much in the way of décor inside, the focus here is squarely on the food. And it is divine. Chef David Malbequi (formerly of Daniel Boulud’s restaurants) creates delicious contemporary French fare without the hefty serving of pretension so overused by many chefs. A recently added lunch menu includes a salad of leeks cleverly wrapped in duck prosciutto. There’s also a grilled, marrow-and-porcini-topped hanger steak. The cost: A two-course lunch prix fixe (entrée with an appetizer or desert) is just $21.

Milos Estiatorio: The opposite of unassuming La Silhouette, Milos is a huge multi-level space reminiscent of Santorini—white gauzy curtains, white table cloths, giant stone urns, and brusque waiters. You’ll likely sit next to a table of bankers or other suit-types discussing a merger. But that's all forgiven once you taste the juicy grilled scallops or the grilled Kaphalonian Loup de Mer (aka branzino), which you can select from the massive display of fresh seafood sitting on ice near the kitchen. For dessert, try the karidopita (walnut cake), dripping in delicious honey. The cost: A three-course lunch prix fixe is just $24.07.

Morimoto: Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Chelsea restaurant is as cool and futuristic as the man in the kitchen. With a decorative wall of water bottles, an, ahem, inventive bathroom, and even a sake sommelier, this place screams “expensive.” And for the most part, it is. But the three-course lunchtime prix fixe is a sizeable meal for an affordable price. Try the super fresh sashimi salad or the braised black cod with a ginger soy reduction. Or if you want to deviate from the whole fish thing, go for the Angry Chicken (spicy, with finger peppers). The cost: $24.07. An even better deal is the High Line Sushi Picnic which includes a variety of sushi with miso soup, salad, water, and a pastry treat. Depending on how much sushi you want, you’ll pay $15, $25 or $35.

On May 7, our friends at Bon Appétit are honoring "Chef of the Century" Paul Bocuse—creator of Bocuse d'Or, the international culinary competition held annually in Lyon, France—as part of Vegas Uncork'd at the MGM Grand.

"Toques Off to Paul Bocuse" will be prepared by some of Condé Nast Traveler's favorite chefs: Alain Ducasse, Julian Serrano, and more. Teams will be formed, and each duo will create one dish as part of a multi-course dinner inspired by Bocuse's nouvelle cuisine style.

Bocuse's son, Jérôme—also a recognized chef and member of the Bocuse d'Or USA foundation—will represent him at this event. An exclusive video retrospective of the chef's legend will be shown.

Keep Memory Alive and the Wirtz Beverage Group's culinary programs and scholarships at the College of Southern Nevada will serve as beneficiaries. Tickets are $395 per person. View the full roster of chefs here.

Bar Boulud

On June 9, we're hosting an all-night Global Feast in New York city, with a cocktail gala at the Gansevoort Park Avenue leading into a set of signature dinners at 10 restaurants across Manhattan, including Torrisi Italian Specialties, Del Posto, Bar Boulud, and The Smile. On the menu at each? One-night-only concepts drawn from food cultures worldwide—with wines to match, of course.

At Torrisi, chefs Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone will celebrate their Little Italy neighborhood with "a whirlwind sampling of Italian, Asian, and Jewish flavors" spanning 10 courses. Bar Boulud will break out the large-format bottles for pairing with a Southern Rhone-inspired menu. Park Avenue Summer is presenting an enticing "Rosé in Every Way" celebration of summer. And Landmarc Tribeca promises "A pig trot around the world" so porcine that even the beer is on theme, in this case Porkslap Summer Ale.

Tickets range from $120 to $220 per person and include drinks and appetizers at the cocktail party, transportation to your table of choice and food, beverage, tax, and tip at one of the 10 participating restaurants. The full roster of restaurants is at the Condé Nast Traveler Global Feast mini-site, where you can buy tickets starting April 18.

Photo of Dominique Saibron's sweets in Tokyo: Flickr/Tim Schapker

If you think you have it rough on February 14 take heart: At least you don’t live in Japan. Chocolate advertisers introduced Valentine’s Day to Nippon in 1936 and by the ’50s, the confectionery companies were marketing exclusively to women, creating an odd custom. In Japan, only women give gifts on Valentine’s Day, specifically chocolate. Candies for your sweetheart are honmei-choko (true love chocolate), and are the most extravagant or even handmade. Since Japan is a gift-giving culture, a girl’s also got to get her bosses and male colleagues less expensive giri-choco (obligation chocolate), and as women have advanced in the workplace, buka-choko for male subordinates. There’s also the increasingly popular trend of buying tomo-choco (friendship chocolate) for female pals, and jubun-choko (my chocolate) for a little self-pampering.

The most common place to buy chocolates is in the depachika, a wonderland of luxury food stalls in the basement of most Japanese department stores. This year, well known depatos (Jingrish for “department stores”) like: Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi, Isetan, Odakyu, and Seibu have gone all out with entire floors dedicated to chocolate fairs. Takashimaya’s “Amour du Chocolat!” and Odakyu’s “Valentine World” feature nearly 100 brands from around the world. Relatively new chocolatiers, such as Brooklyn’s handcrafted Mast Brothers Chocolate, are being sold alongside longtime luxury staples like France’s Fauchon and Belgium’s Godiva.

Japanese companies are also getting in on the act. This year, wacky and nontraditional chocolate gifts are extremely popular, from chocolate lip gloss and nail polish to Tokyo restaurant menu items like: chocolate ramen, chocolate covered burgers, mole-inspired chocolate chicken, and even chocolate pizza. Other creative gift trends include “reverse chocolates,” intended for men to give to women (with the label lettering printed backwards), 80 minute, $250 chocolate facials, and even chocolate baths.

Lest the ladies be left out though—and the luxury-goods industry miss a marketing opportunity—on March 14, Japanese men reciprocate with gifts (often jewelry and handbags) for the similarly fabricated holiday of White Day.

If you're in New York City right now, get ready for the biggest foodie fest of the year. Scores of our favorite dining establishments are serving prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at great discounts. It's not too late to book reservations, but get crackin'—Restaurant Week starts today and runs through February 6 (Saturdays excluded; Sundays optional.)

Check OpenTable for a list of participating spots where appetizer, entrée, and dessert go for just $24.07 (lunch) or $35.00 (dinner), not including drinks, tax, or tip. Our picks:

10 Downing Food & Wine: Now two years in the running, 10 Downing's West Village location is perfect for an early afternoon shopping break. (Lunch)

Convivio: For the pasta that made our '09 Hot List. (Lunch)

Lupa Osteria Romana: Deemed Mario Batali's "maybe best effort in New York" by Eater's newest roundup of the best 38 restaurants in the city. (Lunch)

Maialino: Danny Meyer's latest in the Gramercy Park Hotel draws inspiration from Roman trattorie. (Lunch)

Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis: Ducasse's self-named, David Rockwell-designed resto's food is just as decadent as the building that made '08's Hot List. (Dinner)

Chin Chin: "Haute couture Chinese cuisine." By telephone only. (Dinner)

Indochine: Offering a killer menu—including wok fired mussels, steamed Vietnamese ravioli, and Vietnamese bouillabaisse. (Dinner)

Kittichai: Great Thai food inside the 60 Thompson hotel. (Dinner)

Follow @nycgo on Twitter for advice and promotions. Join the conversation with the official hashtag #nycrw.

Each week, we choose four cities and round up the latest bar and restaurant openings, recipes, and general food-related chatter.

Spend eight days wandering Marrakech, the Ourika Valley, and Essaouira this spring, exploring the markets and learning cooking techniques from the locals with Forking Fantastic! duo Zora O'Neill and Tamara Reynolds. The focus is on artisanal food—but also emphasizes the modernization of Moroccan cuisine at restaurants like Elizir.

The Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland 2011—the 100th anniversary edition—has just been released. There's a newcomer in the mix: Hélène Darroze at the Connaught in London, who was awarded a second star.

Fiamma opens in Miami Beach: a 10-table beach-side Italian café offering dishes like tagliatelle verdi bolognese. Buy a bottle of imported olive oil at the counter. BYOB, until the liquor license comes through.

John Fraser's What Happens When opens next Tuesday in New York: a pop-up restaurant that will change entirely every month for the nine months it will exist. The goal: to present a restaurant that exposes visitors to the creative process. The food: Nordic and Northern Germanic.

Have a tip? Tweet us at @CNTraveler.

Each week, we choose four cities and round up the latest bar and restaurant openings, recipes, and general food-related chatter.

The Guardian explores Malaysian breakfast staples in Langkawi—roti canai and nasi lemak, and the accompanying drinks: teh tarik (recipe here, and from the description, sounds perfect for New Year's Day) and ais kacang. Skip the touristy restos and scope out under-the-radar diners behind Pantai Cenang's markets.

Park City's Montage Deer Valley is now open—just in time for Sundance next month. The hotel and resort has a passion for culinary arts, and après-ski options don't disappoint. On our radar: Apex, an American grill heavy on farm-to-table ingredients. Cooking classes and artisanal cheese tastings are available as well.

Los Angeles' dineLA Restaurant Week takes place next month, offering three-course prix-fixe lunches and dinners (and specially priced hotel and dining packages). New restaurants include The Hungry Cat and Beechwood, and recurring favorites Bouchon, Comme Ça, and Spago Beverly Hills. Tickets are available on Sunday.

Spasso opens next week in New York's West Village—a casual spot with an open kitchen, an Italian cocktail program, and traditional and contemporary food that stands out even amongst the Village's other Italian eateries. Case in point: charred octopus with cucumbers, yogurt, and mint.

Have a tip? Tweet us at @CNTraveler.

Each week, we choose four cities and round up the latest bar and restaurant openings, recipes, and general food-related chatter.

The Times explores Stockholm's sugar tendencies—beyond the konditiorier—with a new wave infiltrating the café scene. Standouts include Martin Johansson's Cupcake Sthlm (American and Nordic approaches), Per Olsson Choklad & Konditori (classic flavors with new twists—banana split mousse with rum), and Saturnus (supersized bulle).

Philadelphia gelato artisans Capogiro pack the booze and holiday spirit into their classic flavors with a new selection: Hot Toddy, Brandy Alexander, Coquito, Pear with Bourbon, New Orleans Egg Nog, and Grapefruit Campari.

Our friends at Bon Appétit are sponsoring their annual Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic in Avon—three days of cooking classes, an après-ski cocktail seminar, and a grand tasting at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. Meals will be prepared by the resort's chefs and guests such as Joey Campanaro (pictured) and François Payard. Packages are available January 27-31.

Charleston's Lowcountry Oyster Festival (the world's largest) takes place next month. Highlights will include the legendary oyster shucking and eating contests, a host of beers, and a food court showcasing a variety of local favorite restaurants.

Have a tip? Tweet us at @CNTraveler.

Each week, we choose four cities and round up the latest bar and restaurant openings, recipes, and general food-related chatter.

We're pretty excited about Anantara Kihavah, opening in the Maldives this January and taking reservations right now. Beyond the suspended villas (!) and infinity pools and empty beaches, we're most intrigued by the underwater aquarium lounge-restaurant, Sea.Fire.Salt.Sky., offering rock lobster, grain-fed Japanese beef, and a killer view.

We found this all-encompassing guide to bento boxes—ekiben—primarily sold in Tokyo, but with offerings in other Japanese train stations, as well, with details on where and how to buy them. A few options: the torimeshi (chicken-rice bento), a wappameshi with a bed of akitakomachi rice, and the yakisoba (stir-fried noodle).

New York Restaurant Week kicks off January 12, featuring newcomers L'Ecole, Tom Colicchio's Riverpark, and The Strand Restaurant at The Strand Hotel. Recurring favorites include Le Cirque, SD26, and Tribeca Grill. The celebration runs through February 6, offering three-course prix-fixe lunches and dinners.

Graham Elliott's Grahamwich opens in Chicago, offering up just eight sandwiches—a jibarito press (pork shoulder, green mango, queso fresco, habanero mustard, plantains) and bánh mì included—in addition to a particularly delicious-sounding cinnamon stick Greek yogurt (roasted apple, salted caramel, pie crust). There's just one table, so be prepared to stand around and munch (and munch)!

Have a tip? Tweet us at @CNTraveler.

Each week, we choose four cities and round up the latest bar and restaurant openings, recipes, and general food-related chatter.

Paris' Michelin starred chef Alain Ducasse—one of our favorites—launches an iPhone app, available in both French and English. Features include the ability to book tables at each of his restaurants, and École de Cuisine Alain Ducasse. No recipes within, yet, but word is they'll be included in version 2.0. Ducasse will be in New York this Sunday, celebrating the app's launch with our friends over at the Wired Store.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. The blowout doesn't take place until mid-June but, like last year, is expected to sell out in the next few days. The festival's perennial favorites include Bobby Flay, Danny Meyer, and Tom Colicchio.

Los Angeles' Library Bar mixologist Matt Biancaniello has upped the bizarre cocktail ante with candy cap mushrooms and white-truffle infused drinks for the holidays. The start of a bar-grown herb trend of sorts—and a welcomed addition to the tropical one currently on the radar. Biancaniello's next project involves his own colony of bees: manipulating the honey's flavor himself with plants.

Miami Beach's Wynnwood Kitchen & Bar is now open, in conjunction with Art Basel. Beyond the graffiti murals by Brazilian artists Os Gêmeos and farm-to-table foodstuffs—tomato gazpacho, calamari tempura, lamb burgers—we're most turned on to the list of Artist Cocktails. A promising inclusion: the complex, spicy David Ellis with squid ink, hot sauce, Bacardi 151, olive brine, and horseradish.

Have a tip? Tweet us at @CNTraveler.