John Gorham Announces Pollo Bravo Spanish Rotisserie & Tapas Bar

Restaurateur John Gorham and Executive Chef Josh Scofield to open Pollo Bravo Spanish Rotisserie & Tapas Bar in Pine Street Market.

News of yet another restaurant from John Gorham. I’ve heard that he keeps expanding, so that his chefs will stay interested, and he’ll be able to keep promoting them. Makes me want to work for John 5-6 years before telling him I’m leaving to open a Finnish restaurant. I’d bet he’d take the challenge, and make it successful. Here’s the press release:

Executive Chef Josh Scofield with partners John Gorham and Ron Avni will be joining the lineup of talented chefs and artisans at the highly anticipated Pine Street Market in late 2015/early 2016.

For the past six years, Toro Bravo alumnus Josh Scofield has been leading the commissary kitchen and charcuterie program behind the four Gorham restaurants: Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder and Mediterranean Exploration Company. The latest project by the Gorham team, PLAZA DEL TORO, a gastronomic society, has proven to be a creative breeding ground for new concepts and a test kitchen for the team to experiment for the advancement of the culinary arts.  Gorham’s model of mentoring chefs from prep cook  to partner comes full circle with this project.  Collaboratively, Gorham and Scofield have been conceptualizing and preparing for this launch for years.  Scofield is responsible for the HACCP plan at Toro Bravo, and has played an integral part of the growth of the Gorham restaurant group.  Traveling together with Gorham throughout Spain to celebrate Spanish culture and cuisine, Josh along with his wife and Toro Bravo floor manager, Sarah Scofield, aim to bring authentic Spanish tapas to the west side.  

Pollo Bravo is inspired by Pollo Rico in Barcelona and the many rotisseries in Sevilla and Valencia, the San Miguel Mercado in Madrid and many plates of Chicken Carbon from Josh’s extensive travels throughout Mexico.  Pollo Bravo is both a tapas bar serving signature tapas dishes from Toro Bravo and a fast casual concept offering Spanish-style rotisserie chicken to-go.

In Gorham’s own words after a recent trip to Spain:

“After days eating of chorizo, jamón and octopus, Josh and I set out to find another flavor of Spanish Cuisine…chicken had never tasted so good.  Spanish food isn’t just about tapas.  It’s both complicated and modernist but also simple and approachable.  Our craft isn’t about recreating authenticity; it’s about serving great food and drink in a festive atmosphere.  We’re thrilled to be in the European-style open market setting that Pine Street is bringing to Portland.”

Located in the heart of the Pine Street Market, Pollo Bravo will welcome guests at 17 bar seats, traditional standing tapas bars and Pine Street’s central seating.  Consulted by Bar Manager Jeremy Meilen of Tasty n Alder, the bar program will boast a mix of modernist technique and Spanish-inspired classics designed to complement the espelette and garlic marinated chicken.

Pollo Bravo is honored to be a part of such an amazing team of chefs and craftsman at Portland’s Pine Street Market. Look for pop-up dinners at PLAZA DEL TORO in preparation for our opening.

This may be the first of many…