Belly Up Mad about saffron

Whether your spring break involved traveling to an international locale or nothing more exotic than sitting in your underpants at home, it probably seems like a distant memory by now. Worse still, you might not have had a break at all. Whatever your situation, the good news is that a little bit of imagination, a couple of hours, and $19.95 can provide one evening of a pretend Spanish getaway with an authentic dinner of paella. That's a Spanish rice dish typically involving a mix of seafood, meat, and vegetables, seasoned with saffron and drenched in olive oil. Wednesdays from 5-11 p.m. are build-your-own paella nights at Le Chardonnay, and the choices are extensive. Options range from the tame (chicken, shrimp, and sweet peas) to the adventurous (chorizo, mussels, and baby octopus). Even the spiciness level is customized. Also included with the meal are salad, bread, and a Tunisian spread called turchi made from carrots and spices. Whatever concoction you end up with, chase it with a beer from Barcelona, enjoy live music from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and escape from Wisconsin for a little while.

Fatsometer: 5. Unless you choose an exclusively meaty selection, the rice and veggies in the mix will keep things reasonable.