Serving over 10 different types of shakshuka, menu decisions are not easy here.
Perched just inside one of the entrances to the Stables Market, Camden’s Cafe Loren is shaking it up on the shakshuka front. Offering ten different varieties of the baked egg speciality, the menu includes everything from a spicy one to a Balkan one to red, white, green ones and even egg-free varieties and a sandwich edition. Naturally, we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to sample a couple.
The cafe itself is small, bright and comfortable, with tables spilling out into a covered courtyard that doubles as their takeaway coffee front. Full of friendly staff and few Friday morning breakfasters, we kick off proceedings with their Mediterranean Plate (£5.50). A sharing platter of dippables, the board is heaving with crunchy cucumber, olives, toasted challah bread and warm burakas (filo pastries full of melty cheese) all ready to be submerged in the giant metal bowl of homemade hummus.
For the main event I’ve gone for the Homeshuka (£8.90), two soft-poached eggs surrounded by a thick sauce of red peppers, tomatoes, garlic and more of that delicious hummus. My friend has gone for the Vegan Shakshuka (£8.50) - though all the dishes are vegetarian here - which offers tofu cubes mixed into a tomato sauce served with side salad and vegan bun. The Homeshuka comes accompanied by hot pita bread, creating the perfect dunk’n’scoop situation. The sauce is fresh and richly flavoured, the eggs firm but runny, and the pita soft like a pillow. Paired with a strong Cortado (£2.40) it tastes like the ultimate hangover cure and perfect feel-good brunch rolled into one.
Cafe Loren is open from 8.30am to 7.30pm Saturday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 6.30pm on Fridays. You can find it at unit 005-006, Stables Market, Camden Town, London, NW1 8AH.
