Camden Market – a Taste Sensation

One of my hobbies, aside from eating, is strolling around weekend markets.

I must say that during my stay in England, I have fallen in love with the mass of markets that London has on offer. On one side of the scale you have the notoriously posh Portobello Road market, and on the other end of the spectrum you have the Camden market, which is renowned for its alternative and punk residents.

Despite its questionable reputation, Camden market, I feel, has a cool and approachable edge, and this is certainly reflected in the diverse and un-intimidating displays of food on show.

Similar to the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia, Camden market really celebrates the multitude of nationalities and flavours that have made England their home. A feast for the eyes, and an anticipated food extravaganza; there are so many tastes to sample from all corners of the globe. From spicy Caribbean cuisine on offer at Carib Sunfood, to the tasty Japanese vegetarian pancakes displayed at the Takoyak stall.

During my visit to Camden market on Saturday, I salivated over a massive selection of doughnuts; I munched on “Chinese KFC”, and I relished in the freshly made Vietnamese rice paper rolls made at Kims Vietnamese Food Hut. Worth noting, my taste buds were fired up and excited by these exquisite rice paper rolls served with a spicy dipping sauce complete with fresh chilli’s­ – seeds and all!

Visiting a market is all about getting out of the house on the weekend and exposing yourself to a world that you may not interact with daily. It’s about meeting new people and exploring their fascinating traditions, flavours and exotic foods.

My weekly trip to the Camden market was, as always, a taste sensation. Having sampled as many dishes as my belt buckle would allow, I regretfully headed home with a satisfied smile on my face and a spicy Indian curry under my arm for later.

Jacklyn Swiecicki