Edible Europe: Camden Lock Markets
Visiting the Camden Lock Markets is an epicurean’s dream. The Camden Lock Markets are located within Camden Town and adjacent to the Camden Lock- hence the name. Camden Lock is a manually operated lock on the regional canal and houses numerous food stalls selling various ethnic delicacies. The choices for food rang from Thai to Mexican to German. I was spoiled with street fare, candies and waffles covered in chocolate syrup- YUM.
Due to the endless food options, I had difficulty picking which food stall to buy from. I finally settled on an Indian food stall titled ‘Little India’, after much coercion from the stall owner. My meal consisted of jasmine rice topped with curried lamb, seasoned spinach, potatoes and garnished in coriander and mango chutney. The coriander and mango chutney added the right mix of mint and sweetness. These flavors cohabited well with the curry sauce on the lamb. The spinach had an interestingly spicy flavoring I’m unsure what spices he used for the spinach, but nevertheless it tasted amazing. The portion size was huge for the price I paid (4 pounds), so I will definitely be visiting the market again for its various food choices.
For dessert I visited a crepe and waffle food stall towards the entrance of the market. The stall offered powdered donuts, crepes topped in sugar, fruits, and an array of belgium waffles. The stall owner also doled out caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, and of course nutella. He drizzled my waffle in chocolate syrup with a healthy portion of whipped cream. I’m a huge fan of waffles, so I had no complaints. Next time I get a waffle from a food truck I will have to be a little more ‘adventurous’ and use nutella for topping.
Camden Lock Market is now one of my favorite locations to visit in London due to its diverse options for food, clothing, jewelry and music. The culture of the enclave is so unique, and the prices for items aren’t half bad either.
-Ashlee Burris