John and Renee Gorham, previously of Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons/Daughters, MEC, etc. sent out an email this morning regarding their future plans:
A thank you to all that supported us over the years: our honored guests, our staff, community partners and friends.
It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to Portland. The memories and experiences we created together over thirteen years will live in our hearts forever. Thank you for all the good times Portland, we wish you all the best.
We poured our hearts into investing in our community through food and connection, supporting our staff through employment and education and did all we could to lift up those around us. The restaurant industry and the culture of Portland that we thrived in for years will never be the same.
We’ve moved on to start a new life and consulting company, Bull and Bee Hospitality, in beautiful Central Oregon. John and I will be offering private dining experiences and consulting restaurants who are bravely foraging ahead in what will be remembered in history as a huge shift of our industry, and hopefully one for the better. Most importantly we will be focusing on our family, John’s health and my new career in real estate.
While our restaurants, Toro Bravo, Tasty n Alder, Tasty n Daughters and gastronomic society Plaza del Toro are permanently closed, some have been reoccupied by wonderful people doing wonderful things. We hope you’ll support them and every restaurant trying to hold on and survive through this pandemic — they need you more than ever. As do the many nonprofit partners that are battling each day to support their communities. It is with great sorrow and regret that we no longer have a platform to support them, for now anyway.
In full disclosure, we have shared our contact list with our former partner operating Mediterranean Exploration Company, Shalom Y’all, Bless Your Heart Burgers and Yalla. You may be hearing from them separately. We wish them success moving forward and charging ahead.
We’ll update you on our journey from time to time through this newsletter and will be announcing Bull and Bee offerings in the new year. In the meantime, please get in touch at inquiries@bullandbeehospitality.com about hosting an event with us when COVID restrictions allow.
With love and gratitude,
Renee and John Gorham
This seems like a good reason to move to Central Oregon.
Michele Romeo says
Just a note re this comment, “This seems like a good reason to move to Eastern Oregon.” Note they said CENTRAL Oregon, not Eastern . As a Portland native who also lived in Bend for 18 years (before throwing up my hands at winter snow and too many tourists in every season) to move to Boise 5 years ago, the folks in Central Oregon would not it is not Eastern Oregon. ;-) I spent a lot of time eating in Portland during my Bend living years. John Gorham’s restaurants were among my favorites. I was heartsick over the events that led to his exit. News that he and Renee are inventing in Central Oregon makes me very happy I still have family in Bend to visit! I wish these good people all the best.
PDXER1 says
What a ride it was! Thank you to the Gorhams for an exciting decade of good food, fun times, and great memories. Your every restaurant was a hit and I was fortunate enough to hit them all. I wish them the very best in their next endeavor.
Thank you again for lighting up my palate.
PDXER1 says
What a ride it was! Thank you to the Gorhams for an exciting decade of good food, fun times, and great memories. Your every restaurant was a hit and I was fortunate enough to hit them all. I wish them the very best in their next endeavor.
Thank you again for lighting up my palate.