Traveling “Rogue” in Portland
Posted in Food, Oregon, Portland Oregon, Restaurant, Travel | By Roger Gillespie | Tags: Brews, Food, Oregon, Portland, Restaurant, Travel
Last Friday we went Old School in Portland to McMenamins Kennedy School, now it’s time to go Rogue!
Rogue Ales
Unlike someone who recently wrote a book entitled, Going Rogue, I actually had the opportunity to go to the Rogue Distillery & Public House, one of the many pubs that are scattered throughout the city of Portland, Oregon.
Rogue Distillery & Public House
Notice that I didn’t call this a brewpub. This is actually a restaurant that serves Rogue Ales, which are brewed solely in one location, Newport, Oregon. The distribution area is much more than just Oregon as Rogue Ales are sold throughout the U.S. and in 21 countries. There are also nine restaurant/public houses from San Francisco to Issaquah, Washington.
The Distillery adjacent to the restaurant does not brew beer, but instead, is the first Rum Distillery in Oregon.
Located in the Pearl District, Rogues’ location was the former home of Portland Brewing. You’ll find a 36-tap beer dispenser serving various award-winning Rogue Ales: Dead Guy Ale, Double Dead Guy Ale, Shakespeare Stout, etc.
But this time, there was not the normal “usual suspects” on the extensive menu.
Kobe Beef is normally considered to be one of those items served in “five star” restaurants. But at Rogue you can have one of five different burgers and five various HOT DOGS!
That even includes a Kobe Beef Corn Dog … try to get one of those at the State Fair!
Yes, you can certainly have a less expensive burger at one of those places with the kid’s playland in the front, but that’s not Kobe!
The beef is supplied by Snake River Farms of Eastern Idaho who raise hormone-free cattle at twice the rating grade of USDA Prime in much the same style as their Japanese counterparts.
My choice was the 1/2 LB Kobe Cheese Burger ($13.50) with Rogue Creamery (not related to Rogue Ales) White Cheddar Cheese. Complete with onion roll, wasabi mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and fries, that was a great burger!
Tender, cooked just how I ordered, and yes, it was expensive … so what … it’s KOBE!
My dining companion opted for a Black Bean and Quinoa salad ($8.95)
Of course there were Black Beans (hence the title of the entrée) along with corn, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños and spices served atop a generous serving of avocado on a bed of quinoa (hence the other part of the entrée’s title.)
As I am always on the lookout for either the best Lobster Roll, or Chicken Marsala (the latter is much easier to find outside of Maine), my dining companion is on a world quest for the best New England Clam Chowder (suspiciously easy to find just about anywhere.)
Rogue’s Clam Chowder (Bowl $5.95 / Cup $3.95) is a New England style which included bacon, celery, onions, and potatoes. Served with a house-baked Hazelnut Ale bread this chowder is now on the list of top 10 that is in no particular order.
Rogue Distillery & Public House
1339 NW Flanders
Portland, OR
Hours: 11 AM – 12 AM, Sunday-Thursday | 11 AM – 1 AM, Fri/Sat
Distillery Tours: 2 PM, Monday-Friday