The e-mail awaiting me this morning from The Mucky Duck was touting The Mark Portugal sandwich, it's best-selling sandwich. As most diners know, what is primarily a live music venue has a very adept kitchen makes the Mucky Duck a worthy stop even when there are no performers. The food is far better than it has to be. One of its best sandwiches - and sandwiches are certainly one reason to visit for lunch - is The Mark Portugal, which is sliced turkey with avocado slices and topped with melted Muenster cheese and large strips of bacon on a crusty, quality French roll that is served warm and with properly crispy fries and a pickle wedge.
Who is or was Mark Portugal? Mark Portugal was plump-when-he-was-playing starting pitcher for the Astros who was a regular at the Mucky Duck while he pitched here in the 1990s. The Astrodome, where the team played until 2000, was just a few miles straight down Kirby from The Mucky Duck and Portugal along with several players for the team including Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell frequented the bar for beer and food. Portugal might have enjoyed those more than his teammates spending a lot of time at the place and even helping to devise the sandwich that bears his name. Turkey, yes and expected for a professional athlete, but buttressed with fatty melted Muenster cheese and avocado and thick slices of bacon, befitting someone who looked like Portugal in a uniform.
Portugal became good friends with Chris Black who devised the beer program at bar and who later moved to Denver opening along with his brothers The Falling Rock Tap House, the best beer bar in the Mountain Time Zone for about a quarter century. Longtime friends with Chris's brother, Steve, and knowing Chris, too, I happened to be the recipient of Portugal's players' tickets in the field box for a game at Coors Field when I was visiting Denver some years ago and The Rockies were at home against the Phillies, Portugal's team at the time. So, I have special regard for The Mark Portugal Sandwich beyond its evident qualities as a sandwich.
The Mark Portugal Sandwich from The Mucky Duck
Who is or was Mark Portugal? Mark Portugal was plump-when-he-was-playing starting pitcher for the Astros who was a regular at the Mucky Duck while he pitched here in the 1990s. The Astrodome, where the team played until 2000, was just a few miles straight down Kirby from The Mucky Duck and Portugal along with several players for the team including Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell frequented the bar for beer and food. Portugal might have enjoyed those more than his teammates spending a lot of time at the place and even helping to devise the sandwich that bears his name. Turkey, yes and expected for a professional athlete, but buttressed with fatty melted Muenster cheese and avocado and thick slices of bacon, befitting someone who looked like Portugal in a uniform.
Portugal became good friends with Chris Black who devised the beer program at bar and who later moved to Denver opening along with his brothers The Falling Rock Tap House, the best beer bar in the Mountain Time Zone for about a quarter century. Longtime friends with Chris's brother, Steve, and knowing Chris, too, I happened to be the recipient of Portugal's players' tickets in the field box for a game at Coors Field when I was visiting Denver some years ago and The Rockies were at home against the Phillies, Portugal's team at the time. So, I have special regard for The Mark Portugal Sandwich beyond its evident qualities as a sandwich.
The Mark Portugal Sandwich from The Mucky Duck
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