During your European vacation planning, you probably haven't given a whole lotta thought to sitting down to a meal based around bits of a slimy prehistoric animal whose name is said to translate to "stone licker" have you? Well, now you can.

February and March of 2010 are when you'll be able to go to the Centro region (Portugal Region Map) of Portugal and get Lamprey in many places, but one of my favorite cities in Portugal, Coimbra, is hosting a Lamprey Feast at the Best Western Hotel D. Luís. Prices are reasonable for a huge dinner and a night in a very nice hotel. Find prices and details on the Centro de Portugal site.

If you're still with me, you'll also want to read Slimy and prehistoric? I'll have it cooked in blood from Reuters. Yum.

You may have missed it if you were anywhere but in Naples, Italy, but Friday was the celebration of the EUs certification of La Vera Pizza Napoletana. 250 free "real" pizzas were given away in central Naples by the first restaurant certified to serve them.

From now on, Naples-style pizza can only be served in restaurants that have received the TSG (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed) label. You can go to Naples and get trained in the theory and methods of making real pizza.

The ingredients for a TSG pizza are specified as local to the Campania region and the methods to make one are tightly defined. That leaves the undefinable skill of the pizzaiolo to create the best of the certified pizzas.

So, maybe you'll want to go on to Naples on a quest to test the skills of all the pizzaioli spinning certified local dough. There are worse ways to spend a vacation.

And while you're at it, take the funicular up the hill to the National Museum of San Martino and take in these spectacular views of Naples from above

A little event in Paris caught my eye this morning. Context Paris and Hidden Kitchen are hosting an evening with "chef and author David Lebovitz and journalist Meg Zimbeck as they look at Parisian cuisine at a crossroads and how external influences are re-shaping French gastronomy as part of Context's "Out of Context" series of special events."

Sign up, send some money and you'll get to eat at the renowned Hidden Kitchen in the company of one of Twitter's most compelling voices. (Mr. Lebovitz can put more Parisian life into a 140 character post than anyone I know.)

Check out: Kitchen Conversations.

Follow me on twitter: @wanderingitaly

Follow David Lebovitz on twitter: @davidlebovitz

Find out More about Paris with our Interactive Map of Paris or find other Paris Dinner Gatherings - Salons in Parisian Ateliers.

Perhaps it's time to seriously consider those expensive-to-load-onto the-plane bags of yours.

What do we carry on our travels? Check out some Carry-On Luggage recommendations.

Did you know that in February you can get 10% Off Orders over $50 sitewide at eBags.com (Buy Direct)?