For those of you who have visited Duluth, you’ve probably dined at, or at least driven, by the historic Fitger’s brewery, Duluth’s first brewery. Since reopening in the 1980s, it has expanded to include a hotel, several restaurants and plenty of shops in addition to the brew house.

I’ve dined at Fitger’s Brewhouse several times over the years and have always enjoyed the bustling restaurant, extensive menu and variety of craft beers. But I haven’t been there in a few years. When news hit this summer that Minneapolis would be getting our own Fitger’s, I was overjoyed. Unfortunately, news hit in November that Fitger’s decided to scratch expansion plans…for now.

(credit: Crystal Grobe)

Luckily, I can enjoy my own wild rice burger at home thanks to the recipe development done over at Heavy Table. While Fitger’s wouldn’t spill the exact recipe details, I think you’d agree that Heavy Table’s recipe comes pretty close to the real deal. Head on over to their site for this easy-to-make recipe. You’ll be surprised at how well these burgers come together with the help of melted cheese.