slides: First Look: Gorham’s Gorgeous Plaza Del Toro Set To Open April 17th

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Robby Davis, GolocalPDX Contributor

Here is a first look at Plaza Del Toro.

Chef John Gorham, of Toro Bravo, Tasty ‘n’ Sons, Tasty ‘n’ Alder, and Mediterranean Exploration Company fame, wanted a new "home for his ideas."

See Slides Below: Plaza Del Toro Set To Open April 17th

But what John and his wife and partner Renee Gorham turned into their new "home" is actually a gorgeous private event space, Portland's first gastronomic society, and a modern test kitchen/lab smack dab in the middle of southeast Portland's inner Industrial District.

GoLocalPDX had a chance to see how the Gorham transformed a former interior design studio into a highly stylized (and what is sure to be) a highly coveted event space. The space is pure Gorham from the wood-burning oven to the art deco wallpaper that lines its walls and the massive wood tables that can be dismantled in mere minutes. Chef John even brought his own cookbooks from home.

Plaza Del Toro will kick into high gear with an Open House on Friday, April 17th from 7-10pm. At that time Plaza del Toro will welcome the public to come in and check out the space, open the bar for business, and serve bites from all four restaurant menus. DJ Waffle will be spinning records as well.

A classy dinner event will be held on the following night, Saturday, April 18th, at 6:30 pm with winemaker John Paul of Cameron Winery. The 12-course dinner will provide guests with a rare opportunity to sample a vertical of ten vintages of Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir in Magnums from John Paul’s personal library. Tickets are $175 all inclusive for the formal affair. Another Plaza Del Toro dinner event will be a family-style Spanish meal on Friday, April 24th at 7:30 pm. This event will showcase the new release wines of Cellers Joan d’Anguera. Special guests include Joan and Josep d’Anguera, who will be visiting from their natural and biodynamic estate in the town of Darmos, in the Montsant in Spain.

Before the open house and dinners, take a first look at Plaza del Toro below.

Plaza del Toro is located at 105 S.E. Taylor Street.

Related Slideshow: Plaza Del Toro Set To Open April 17th

Here's an inside look into Plaza Del Toro.

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Plaza Del Toro is a private event space, gastronomic society, and modern test kitchen that is based out of Portland’s Southeast Industrial District. It was created by restaurateur John Gorham, who is also the Chef/Owner of Portland’s Toro Bravo, Tasty ‘n’ Sons, Tasty ‘n’ Alder, and Mediterranean Exploration Company.