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My Polish sister in law serves her golabki with both a tomato sauce and a creamy mushroom sauce -- the mushroom sauce is delicious! Found a recipe here: http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishvegetables/r/mushroomsauce.htm

Also found this: http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/maincourses/r/StuffedCabbage.htm

And this tomato sauce recipe:
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/polishmaincourses/r/golabkitomato.htm

North Michigan Avenue area: Goddess & Grocer for sandwiches/salads/soups -- they make the most divine chocolate-dipped red velvet whoopie pies; El Souk for middle-eastern/mediterranean; Soupbox for quick soups, salads and grilled cheese sandwiches; Rosebud on Rush ($5 half pound burger lunch special! with sweet potato fries! on pretzel roll!); Silver Spoon for fairly decent Thai fare ($6 lunch menu, includes appetizer and entree); Quartino for Italian small plate dishes (the veal meatballs are great); Bar Toma for pizzas and salads; Devon for seafood.

@BitchinFixins: strangely enough, I've never heard that song in all the times I've been fortunate enough to go to Italy! I only know it from old tv shows here in the States! I did hear a lot of La Vie en Rose in Paris, though ... =)

And the gondolier we had didn't sing, but told us lots of interesting stories about the neighborhoods we were going through (he was also hitting on the friend I was traveling with, which was pretty funny!).

In Rome, go to Sora Margherita in the Jewish quarter -- this is not a touristy place, it is where the locals go -- it is hard to find but COMPLETELY worth the time -- address is Piazza delle Cinque Scole, 30. My mouth waters when I think about the food we ate there -- pollo con pepperoni, crispy fried artichokes, fresh, homemade fettucini cacio e pepe covered with a scoop of warm, homemade ricotta and fresh parmesan. The food was unbelieveable.

In Venice, stay away from Piazza San Marco -- walk up the waterfront to Via Garibaldi, and then walk inland -- we stumbled on an area where the locals seem to hang out -- there was one place in particular where the owner was sitting out there with a guitar and a mike singing old Venetian songs; all the families dining were singing a long, kids were playing in the street -- it was great!

Their baklava is also ridiculously good. My parents won't let me into the house if I don't bring a tray home for the holidays.

Fantastic! There is so much good food here in Chitown!

Depends on where you will be in Chicago -- on the north side, there's a vegan/vegetarian place called The Loving Hut which has very healthy food, also a great place called M Henry. Most places offer healthy options (steamed fish and veggies, etc) that might be okay to eat ...

The Mad Platter! It's amazing.

A while ago (I think maybe a year ago or so), there was an article posted here for wings marinated overnight with Old Bay seasoning -- after you cook them in the oven, then toss them with Frank's and melted butter. They are amazing and my go-to recipe for wings now.

When I was a kid, we went to Spain nearly every year to visit family. Back then, you couldn't get chorizo here in the States (thank goodness that has changed!). My folks would save up all our dirty laundry for one suitcase, and use that suitcase to smuggle in plastic-and-foil wrapped links of chorizo. Never got caught!

Take a look at the Suzanne Somers 'Somersize' books. The Somersize plan allows you to eat some carbs, but separate from proteins/fats. As a result, she has tons of low/no carb and no sugar recipes, and they are really very good. She has pretty great recipes, such as: artichoke frittata, Greek lemon chicken, espresso custard, spinach-stuffed chicken breasts, garlic roasted pork, eggs in crispy onion baskets, etc. If you look at these books, try the first two: "Eat Great, Lose Weight" and "Get Skinny on Fabulous Food"

Love, love, love this place! The pizza is fantastic, the owner is incredibly friendly, and the service is great. We once waited for 45 minutes (summer night, dinner rush) and they brought out pizza appetizers for those in line to snack on. And they hand out little dessert cannolis when you leave!

@Jbout -- Margie's is also at the Brown line stop -- save some room and stop there for dessert!