Blue Door Pub wants you to create its next burger
Stuff all your creativity into the center of a free range beef patty
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Crave hosts fantasy "food"-ball league
How 'bout those Vikings? 
Forget football. Join Crave's fantasy "foodie" ball game.
If you're one of those people who wouldn't know a safety from a saute pan, or if you've already given up on the local team, you can still get in on the action. Crave has recently launched its Fantasy CraveBall, a fantasy football-like competition geared toward foodies instead of sports fans.
Worst Cooks in America casting call at Faces
The Food Network show Worst Cooks in America is recruiting in the Twin Cities with an open casting call next week. For the chance to have Food Network chefs Anne Burrell and Bobby Flay put you through culinary boot camp, just show up at Faces Mears Park restaurant in downtown St. Paul on Tuesday, August 30th, between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for an interview. Bring along a replication of the worst dish you've ever cooked. 
Being the worst is good for something!
For more information, go to www.theconlincompany.com or email worstcooks@theconlincompany.com.
Kemps subjects new flavors to a lick-off at the fair
The Minnesota State Fair starts in less than a week, and those who can't control their cravings for the next six days can find some relief in Kemps' recently launched, limited-edition "Hometown Favorite" Sweet Martha's Cookie Dough Ice Cream, which will be on grocery store shelves through August. 
www.kemps.com Vote online or in person for Kemps' next Hometown Favorite.
Then, when you go to the fair, you can participate in choosing Kemps' next Hometown Flavor as the two finalists in their recent flavor contest will be subjected to a lick-off.
Here's what you need to know:
More >>Win Brew at the Zoo tickets for Friday night!
[CONTEST NOW CLOSED]
Cool penguins, cold brews at the zoo
Cancel your plans for Friday night--chances are this will be way more fun. City Pages has four tickets to the Brew at the Zoo event that evening (a $180 value)--and you can win them for free!
Brew at the Zoo is a beer-tasting event at the Minnesota Zoo that lets you sample more than 130 beers from 34 breweries, including Summit, Surly, Lift Bridge, St. Croix, Samuel Adams, New Belgium, Rogue, Crispin Ciders, and Brau Brothers.
Here's more on the event, and the ridiculously simple way you can enter the contest.
More >>Win Renaissance tickets by naming your favorite festival food
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival starts August 20th. In addition to the historic cooking demonstrations, Ren Fest offers a whole slew of fair food, including beef on weck, bangers & mash, and those iconic turkey legs. (And also several anachronistic eats, such as gyro sandwiches, nachos, and "Sir Scotchy's" rice krispie treats.)
Minnesota Renaissance Festival Win tickets to Ren Fest by naming your favorite fare!
The Hot Dish has four pairs of Renaissance Festival tickets to give away. One set can be yours if you tell us which Ren Fest food you're most looking forward to eating and why in the comments. (Be sure to leave your email address in the "post as" box. It won't be visible.)
GQ/Bombay Sapphire contest picks the Twin Cities' "Most Inspired Bartender"
​Tuesday night four of the Twin Cities' most creative bartenders came together to compete in the GQ/Bombay Sapphire "Most Inspired Bartender" contest. The winner is sent to Las Vegas and represents Minnesota against bartenders from all around the U.S.. Each bartender developed a cocktail using Bombay Sapphire gin and presented it to two of the most qualified judges Minnesota could offer: Johnny Michaels and Nick Kosevich. If you're new to town, or just turned 21, Johnny Michaels heads the bar at La Belle Vie and has lent his creativity to many local drink lists (Masu Sushi and Robata most recently), and Nick Kosevich is one half of Bittercube, a hand-crafted bitters company (the other half is Ira Koplowitz formally of Chicago's Violet Hour) Nick has also had a hand in shaping many cocktail lists both locally and in Wisconsin. 
Chad Larson: WINNING!
Richy Rivera (of Eli's), Gina Kent (of Bradstreet Craftshouse), Rob Jones (of Meritage) and Chad Larson (of Barrio ) were each set up with a station on the rooftop of the Epic nightclub downtown. Pip Hanson was the fifth finalist but was unable to compete, as his new spot went live this week (more on that later). Each contender made samples of their cocktail for all to try, and the judges made their way around to each one.
The Northern Heartland Kitchen cookbook: Win a copy!
Local author Beth Dooley, who-co authored Savoring the Seasons of the Northern Heartland with chef Lucia Watson, has a new cookbook coming out this fall. Her Northern Heartland Kitchen, which builds on the content in the previous book, aims to be a comprehensive guide to local, seasonal eating. 
Comment to win this book!
The Northern Heartland recipes--200 some--are organized into autumn, winter, spring, and summer sections. The first chapter includes everything from fresh chestnut soup to cranberry sorbet and, if you're not so familiar with either main ingredient, Dooley has sprinkled in information on the history, cultivation, and preparation, of these native foods.
More >>Sambusa Cook-Off: Neighbors for Nations cooks up tasty challenge
What makes the perfect sambusa? Five Minnesota-based Somali chefs think they have the answer.
Edsel Little/Flickr Five chefs battle to make the Twin Cities' best sambusas
Saturday July 9, Neighbors for Nations is staging an all-out Sambusa Cook-Off at the Lab Theater in Minneapolis's Warehouse District. In addition to the culinary skills on display, this free event will feature authentic Somali music and a panel of celebrity judges to pick the best sambusa chef. And to top it all off, the first 350 guests will get to act as the fifth judge in the contest.
More >>WANTED: hot dog eating champ!
Do you have what it takes to represent City Pages in the Diamond Dog eating contest at the Depot Tavern? 
How many dogs can you down in 10 minutes?
There are just a few days left to step up to the plate and show how far your stomach can stretch. In return, the first, second, and third place winners will receive tickets to First Avenue shows and Depot gift cards.
For more info, or to sign up, click here:
