How to get a reservation in a popular restaurant: Two weeks in advance, call (or, better yet, visit in person) around 3 p.m. when the restaurant isn't busy. Tell the host or manager that you're taking your boss, wife or girlfriend to dinner for an occasion, and that you need their help to impress him or her. If the host is accommodating and gets you a seat, get the host's phone number to thank them later. You're in!

Walking is the best way to get to know a city's restaurant scene. Every time I explore a new neighborhood — or even my own neighborhood — on foot, I find something new. I walk all the time, and add new restaurants to my "need to try" list on almost every jaunt.

Want to brag about your Restaurant Week experience but don't want to sell your amazing dish short? Two tips: Try to eat outside or near a window when it's light outside. Natural light produces the very best food shots; my last cookbook was shot entirely with natural light. Also, never use a flash. The harsh light and shadows never result in a good shot—and it's extremely annoying to other diners.

It's not just the food that makes a culinary experience - the ambiance of a restaurant is just as much a part of it. When making a reservation, I often request a specific table near a window with a view, or at the chef's table so I can watch dishes come to life in the kitchen (to think people once thought of that as a bad table!). Calling ahead can ensure a spot as entertaining as the bites.

Too many late night Restaurant Week experiences? The problem is, eating a late night meal right before bed can lead to heartburn - it's more likely to hit you if you're lying down. I've learned to cap off great late night meals by drinking a glass of water slowly, which gives my stomach time to get used to everything. If heartburn still strikes, I take PEPCID COMPLETE^TM - it lasts all night*, offering relief while I sleep.

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