Though Camino by Ultreia just launched in a kiosk in the Great Hall in Union Station, it’s been on chef Adam Branz’s mind since the Spanish restaurant first opened. Finally, eight years later, Branz and the Crafted Concepts team finally has the grab-and-go eatery up and running, and already it’s developing a following.
“I make a lot of sandwiches and I care a lot about sandwiches, so it kind of made sense to do this sort of Spanish-inspired sandwich grab-and-go,” said Branz, adding you can choose from hot or cold bocadillos. “The cold, we just hand it to you, the hot, we take about two minutes to heat it up, depending, and then the retail items are all Spanish.”
Items on the Camino menu highlight Spanish ingredients and flavors, but were created in a way to speak to the American traveler. For example, the Turkey Tostado features sliced turkey, roasted eggplant, onion, labneh (a type of tangy yogurt), and fresh herbs. The Bikini is another popular bocadillo, and with jamón serrano, Manchego, artichokes, truffle mayo, and Basque chilis, is a play on a dish off the Pinche Pintxos happy hour menu (served daily from 3 to 6 p.m.).
On the cold side, try the Tuna Mixta, a Spanish take on classic tuna salad, though this one features tuna conserva, hard boiled egg, potato, basque chilis, and tangy green goddess dressing. Camino also serves salads and hearty bowls such as the Garbanzo Bowl with mixed greens, chickpeas, egg, tomato, cucumber, pepper, and sherry dressing; and Gazpacho Salad with romaine, jamon serrano, egg, cucumber, tomato, breadcrumbs, goat cheese, and housemade gazpacho vinaigrette.
In a way the opening of Camino marks a slight shift in the way the chef wants to run his sit-down spot Ultreia, also in Union Station. For eight years the Barcelona-style tapas restaurant has dished out classic bites for lunch and dinner, such as the Patatas Bravas, Spanish and Portuguese inspired cheeses, Pan Con Tomate, and Croquetas de Jamón.
While launching Camino, Branz also decided to work on a new lunch program for Ultreia. Currently the midday meal mimics the evening service, but the goal is to have two distinguishable meals while also staying unique from Camino. One thing that will remain the same for all meals is the bread, which, said Branz, is being made in the downstairs Ultreia kitchen by one of the most talented bakers in town.
“We are thinking on how to differentiate them, but also keep them craveable and in a semi-same genre,” said the chef. “The idea is to do like a Northeast [style] hoagie shop, but with Spanish ingredients.”
As the economy shifts and more people look toward fast-casual dining, a place like Camino fits right in. Branz has also noticed more people wanting to get lunch downtown, especially grab-and-go items.
“We’re seeing that on the sales reports and I’m feeling an uptick,” he added, gesturing towards the bustling center of the station. “It could just be me being stupidly optimistic, but there’s people here and they’re eating.”
Prior to the opening of Camino, the kiosk housed Pig Train Coffee, which moved to its permanent digs inside the station a couple months ago. Branz, and Ultreia co-founder Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja, Bistro Vendome), took the opportunity to obtain the 147-square-foot space from Union Station, a move, added the chef, that came easy since the train depot has been such a good landlord over the years. Right now, there’s no other place in the station where someone can get a good to-go meal fast, especially when it comes to sandwiches.
“People are always looking for those grab-and-go type items, and Terminal Bar Kitchen, which is awesome, is much more of a sit-down sandwiches and appetizer kind of place,” added Branz. “I think of the thousands of people I’ve sent to 7-Eleven two blocks away over the years. [They would come in looking to] just grab a quick sandwich, but we couldn’t do quick, you couldn’t find it here.”
Lucky for travelers and locals, with Camino now it’s easy to get a solid meal in minutes, be that charcuterie, imported jamón ibérico chips, a solid hot sandwich, or fresh salad. Order at the kiosk or online for pick up. Bonus, you don’t even have to be in a hurry to enjoy it.
Visit Camino by Ultreia every day from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Located in the Great Hall at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, ultreiadenver.com
