Celebrated King's Cross Spanish restaurant, Camino, is set to open a second location, Camino Puerto del Canario, at Westferry next to Gaucho and Royal China. Sitting in on a staff training session and menu tasting led by Head Chef Nacho del Campo yesterday, Londonist was not only impressed with many of the dishes sampled but equally by the enthusiasm of the new venue's staff. Said one waitress-to-be, “I've been working in the restaurant industry for several years and this is the first time I felt I've received proper training and have been made to feel like an important part of the business”. Based on our experiences with Camino, we reckon they take their busy-ness seriously.
As for the new digs, expect more of the same but with riverside view and a hepped up wine list for spendthrift bankers. Highlights from yesterday's tasting include presa Iberica (6oz of Iberico black pig shoulder blade cooked medium rare and served sliced for sharing, £9.50), pulpo a la parrilla (grilled octopus tentacle with olive oil marsh, £9.75), fuet d'Olot (Catalan cured pork sausage, £5) and remojon (salad of smoked cod, orange, black olive, red onion, new potatoes and tomatoes served with extra virgin olive oil, £5.75). A bottle of Petalos, Descendientes de Palacios (2007/08 Mencia/Bierzo, £30) was a winner of a red when coupled with the meatier items we tried.
And all the inky smudges on our notes suggest we especially enjoyed the arroz negro con calamares (black rice made from cuttlefish, squid ink and calasparra rice with baby squid and alioli, £6.50).
Camino Puerto del Canario is set for a soft launch (with lots of discounts) this month. We'll keep ya posted.
