I like to eat. Everything. All the time. No, really, it’s bad - I’m perpetually hungry and reading, writing and talking about delicious things all day only makes it worse.  I’ve never been able to say no to trying new foods, and my belief that no meal is complete without dessert guides my entire life.

I read the New York Times Dining section religiously, and one glorious Wednesday morning the hallowed broadsheet magically flew open to a two page ad spread announcing the return of New York City’s bi-annual Restaurant Week from July 11 – 24, along with this summer’s participating eateries. Clearly, this was a divine message telling me to spread the good news, so I immediately emailed the rest of the “Hunter Public Relations Newbie Crew,” a group of new-hires, and fellow foodies, to begin planning a Restaurant Week outing.

In case you’ve never experienced it, Restaurant Week offers those of us with more appetite than cash an opportunity to indulge in a three-course meal at some of the city’s finest culinary hot spots without fear of defaulting on a month’s rent.

We decided to dine at nearby Ilili, which serves Lebanese/Mediterranean cuisine.  We began with a complimentary Shot of Passion, having all unlocked the Foursquare special within minutes of arriving. Between the nine of us, we were able to try nearly every dish on the menu – including the octopus! Our mutual adoration for Ilili’s tuna belly even convinced one less adventurous Hunter newbie to try it for the first time.

Working with others who share my prandial enthusiasm has been more fun than I could have imagined. I’m lucky to work at an agency where everyone is eager to experience new things (food-related or not), so I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more newbie adventure ideas. Stay tuned!

-Nihara