John Gorham, Iconic Portland Restaurant Entrepreneur, Selects Watershed Communications

John Gorham, a pioneering chef/restaurateur in Portland's celebrated culinary scene, has selected Watershed Communications as his agency of record, after a city-wide review process.

Watershed is a national brand strategy and communications firm based in Portland, Oregon, with an office in Brooklyn, New York, and is known for its work with national and regional thought-leaders in the world of artisan food producers and high-end restaurants, including Steven Smith Teamaker, House Spirits, and Nostrana.

Gorham's operations include his flagship Spanish-influenced restaurant Toro Bravo, along with Tasty n Sons and the latest addition, Interurban, a new iteration of a tavern located in Portland's trendy Mississippi nightlife district.

Gorham has helped shape the food scene in Portland over the last decade, which is now a magnet for national media attention, through his early work with whole-animal butchery, in-house charcuterie, farm-to-table sourcing, and a series of ultra-casual supper-club style dinners with his original company, Simpatica.

"We share the same affection for Portland as Gorham does, and have been promoting its virtues to the national press for the last decade or so," says Watershed founder and principal Lisa Donoughe. "We've seen his influence on so many chefs in Portland and are thrilled to see that his sense of innovation is unflagging."

Gorham recently signed a cookbook deal with West Coast indie publisher McSweeney's, and is producing the book with a Portland editorial and kitchen team, including friends in the food scene's inner circle who test the recipes with weekly family suppers.

Watershed will help Gorham integrate the book publicity into a larger positioning strategy that will continue to shine a light on all the restaurants' activities, as well as the rising stars within the Gorham empire.

With offices on both coasts, Watershed is an award-winning agency that specializes in promoting both established national brands and growing regional businesses. With a deep expertise in food and beverage, the firm has a history of success in helping thought-leaders tell their stories. It's that mission that in 2009 earned founder Donoughe the Portland PRSA chapter's Lifetime Achievement Award for her work helping to put Portland on the map as a thriving culinary destination.

John Gorham joins the Oregon Brewers Guild, Virtue Cider, Montinore Estate, Steven Smith Teamaker, Top Hops Beer Shop, Nostrana and others in the agency's dynamic food and beverage portfolio. For more information, please visit www.watershedcom.com.

For more information about Watershed's services or client list, please visit www.watershedcom.com.