When I am traveling, and I can partake in restaurant week in a different city it is a wonderful way to try a new restaurant, neighborhood and savor the cuisine. The lunch and dinner tasting menus allows me to experience and explore.

On a recent trip to New York, I was able to try the modern gourmet Chinese cuisine at Philippe Chow in downtown Manhattan. The décor is dark and sensual, the service professional and the food freshly prepared and delicious.

The dinner tasting menu has a varied choice of starters, main courses and but only two choices for dessert. I started with the chicken lettuce wraps, then the jumbo shrimp in a tasty white sauce accompanied with fried rice or saluted green beans and a decadent chocolate cake to end my meal.

My party tried the filet mignon with green beans, the Beijing chicken, and the vegetarian curried tofu dishes as well at the signature shrimp and chicken satay for a starter. The preparation and the taste are tantalizing. I am usually weary of Chinese food as too heavy, but this preparation is light.

After being in our respective cities with travel restricted for so long it is nice get out and return to normalcy. Make new experiences and reconnect with family and friends!