This is not a traditional restaurant review but rather it’s intended to report on the newly invigorated menu at Congress Squared at the Westin Portland Harborview. Last Thursday night a dinner was prepared for press and industry folk to sample the new dishes with chefs Brian Anderson (executive chef) and Elisha (pronounced Elijah) Irland (chef de cuisine) running the show.
Clockwise: C2″s banquettes; chef Brian Anderson (right) and attendees at the press and industry dinner
Each dish—and there were many—were killer efforts that the kitchen team produced with suavity and assuredness. The smoked duck breast, for example, over a cunningly devised puree of rosemary with dots of roasted grapes and garlic confit created an arsenal of flavor that put the whole chorus of fine cooking on a high note. The sweet-smoky duck breast soaking up the vivaciousness of the rosemary puree underneath was further complimented by the umami of sweetly pungent pairing of grapes and garlic confit.
Smoked duck breast with rosemary
