'When I think of Camden, I think of the 1970\'s hipsters, mini skirts and the peaceful hustle and bustle of free loving folk, walking carefree through the streets. Those days aren\'t exactly too far away from todays reality. The array of sweet little stalls with hand crafted goods being sold to free spirited people from across the globe, keeps the legacy of Camden Market alive. I managed to venture over on a typical British day in May...it rained! Despite the very cold and windy conditions, Camden still had this beautiful feel about it. Since 1974 the welcome hasn\'t really changed much, albeit that the modern facades of store fronts are definitely much bolder than in years gone by. Big restaurant names have started to creep into the market and the small independents are fighting to keep their rightful dominance in a tussle over the passing trade (customers). Walking through, most of the stalls in the Asian Alley would call out for you to try their foods, pushing pieces of chicken or sweet curry to you. A reminder of the travels through markets across Asia and Africa. However, outside in the street food sections and in the craft markets areas, most operators where either engrossed on their phones, or had clearly had enough of the weather and simply didn\'t want to engage in any form of conversation. A very disappointing display, but that was just my feeling, I am not sure how the hundreds of tourists and day trippers felt, especially as lockdown was easing and finally people could be out spending money again. Having already enjoyed a few street food offerings, notably the Mac and Cheese from the wonderful guys at The Mac Factory, I had to try some food from a wonderful young man who sold \"Himself\" to me through his contagious personality and charm. Working on a Thai food stand, I chose a small selection of dishes that given the cold weather, I thought I would be over joyed to have eaten. Unfortunately, it let me down from the very first bite. Luke warm, under seasoned, rice had clearly sat around for much longer than it should, considering the crunchiness and the temperature. A few mouthfuls to hopefully find something promising to say, but alas that was not going to happen! In all, Camden has the ability to be the best market destination in London, especially considering its 250,000 plus visitors each week. Yet, the inconsistent standards and the lack of enthusiasm, could well be the undoing of the best kept location in London. I loved being there because of the high points of my visit, and will return because of them, but would I recommend it, yes I would...only for the Location, the beauty of the lock and of course, the MAC & CHEESE!'
Tags: london , thai , Thai Food , street food , streetfood , thai street food , london markets , camden market , Camden town , thai streetfood , camdenmarket , londonmarket , londonmarkets
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