Their mother Marie was a professional waitress for thirty years, so it is understandable that Justin and Greg Gorham grew up with a natural link to the restaurant business.In fact their younger brother Michael was also involved in the culinary arts for years before going to work for his mother, who now directs a children’s advocacy program in Los Lunas, New Mexico.
Justin and Greg have been a dynamic team in the kitchen at Timbers Restaurant for the past three years. Justin is the Kitchen Manager and handles the grill, cooking steaks to perfection, while Greg is the chef. If something needs to be done, however, the duo tackle whatever duty is required.
It’s not the first time they have shared a restaurant kitchen in Red River, having worked shoulder to shoulder at Capo’s Italian Restaurant for several years before moving to Timbers. Between the two, they have worked at most of the restaurant kitchens in town.
Born in Albuquerque, Justin, the oldest, moved to Red River seventeen years ago. He eventually studied the culinary arts at TVI - currently named Central New Mexico Community College - in the Duke City. He’s been cooking for the past thirteen years in the kitchens of Northern New Mexico, actually starting out as a dishwasher at Angelina’s Restaurant before manager Dennis Swanson promoted him to the kitchen.
For Greg, his education has been “the school of experience,” starting out as a busboy before graduating to the cooking chores, a trade he has plied for the past eleven years.
“I’ve just learned from my own mistakes,” he says, although he will admit that Justin has taught him a thing or two.
While the two occasionally have disagreements, harmony and efficiency in the kitchen is their trademark. They will readily admit they love what they do.