Campus Club offers public happy hours

The Campus Club at Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota's East Bank is known for its view of the Minneapolis skyline, whether from indoors or its outdoor terrace. Members love it. But for three summer months, the public can experience the place at the club's open happy hour from 3-7 p.m. weekdays, from June 1 to Aug. 28. The new summer bar menu features Redhead Creamery cheese curds and desserts by Annamarie Rigelman, an alum of Lucia's, along with local beers, wines and custom cocktails. The Campus Club is on the fourth floor of Coffman, 300 Washington Av. SE. with parking available in the adjacent East River parking garage, or stroll from the East Bank light rail station. For more info, visit www.campusclubumn.org.

Wild rice recipe contest

Wild rice recipes have come a long way since creamy soups, thanks in part to the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council's annual contest. Home cooks, professionals and aspiring chefs may submit their favorite recipe featuring the native cereal grain for three opportunities to win. Up to 16 finalists will have their recipes published and win prize packages. A grand prize of $500 goes to the winning recipe chosen by a panel of judges. And the winning recipes will be posted for an online contest celebrating National Rice Month in September for a prize of $250. New this year: One finalist will be nominated as an automatic qualifier for the World Food Championships in Kissimmee, Fla., with its $300,000 in prizes. The deadline for recipe submission is June 14. Visit www.mnwildrice.org for full contest details.

Grilling book helps veterans

Sue Kraatz of Maple Grove is among the cooks included in a downloadable grilling cookbook put out by the Propane Education and Research Council , along with Food Network personality and Air Force veteran Sunny Anderson, to raise money for wounded veterans. "Grilling for Heroes" has 50 recipes from across the country, among them Kraatz's recipe for grilled spiced potato wedges that uses pumpkin pie spice. Donations are being accepted in exchange for downloads of the cookbook at GrillingForHeroes.com throughout 2015. All proceeds go to Hope for the Warriors, a nonprofit with programs focused on post-9/11 wounded service members and their families.

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