It was a sunny bank holiday Monday and the Ely Market was bustling with its usual wide array of food vans. Each one was tempting me in a different direction with an offering of traditional, fusion, or global cuisine.

I visit the Ely Market so frequently that I wrongly presumed to have sampled everything it has to offer…That was until I saw a red flag standing proud atop a tall black pole, resembling the unmistakable silhouetted black double-headed eagle of the Albanian flag. Once again, Ely Market trumps me by not only surprising me with a food stall but an entire national cuisine I have yet to experience!

Well played, Ely Market, well played!

My eyes were immediately drawn to the display, which had me utterly fascinated. It was brimming with unusually long, sausage-shaped pastries, complemented by a spread of intriguing and delicious-looking creations I have never seen before.

As I was new to Albanian cuisine and there was still so much to learn and experience, the foodie in me took over, so I ordered a bit of…everything!

Turkish Coffee.

I noticed some Turkish coffee for sale. I was fascinated to see it brewed right in front of me on hot sand! This traditional method involves nestling a cezve (a small, long-handled pot) directly into the sand. This unique technique ensures the coffee receives gentle, even heat, which prevents scorching. This leads to a noticeably richer, more complex flavor compared to other brewing approaches. My wife and I were both absolutely captivated by its earthy notes and robust taste – a refreshing change from your standard every day coffee.

Byrek

I noticed some Byrek in the back, a type of Turkish dish that is eaten widely across the Middle East and Balkan area. It is made from multiple layers of thin flakey pastry (filo?) that offers a larger and more robust snack option. The ones on display today were filled with onion and tomato.

The Byrek was served either in squares or as long, thin pastry rolls. Despite its size, the multiple layers of flaky pastry made it surprisingly light and airy. This layered construction gave it a wonderfully satisfying crispy texture, allowing the flavors to truly shine. The tomatoes provided a juicy tang and were beautifully complemented by the more subtle notes of the onion. It was undeniably messy, but as with all the best food, that only added to the fun!

Filled Pastry

Amongst the sea of light brown pastries, a colourful pop jumped out at me in the form of filled pastries, each with a colour resembling a different flavour – strawberry, pistachio, and chocolate.

The filled pastry was one of my highlights of the entire experience. They were colourful, fun sized, and sweet. Both my sons absolutely devoured theirs without any hesitation. I was lucky enough to try all three flavours of strawberry, chocolate, and pistachio, with the pistachio jumping out as my personal favourite.

3 Cheese Calzone

Two types of calzone also caught my eye. These are essentially a pizza folded into a handheld pocket. It is a dish that offers a wonderfully practical and portable solution, much like a Cornish pasty – perfect for eating on the go. Given my considerable hunger, their sheer size made them an inevitable choice, looking like the most filling and substantial dish on the menu.

That calzone was pure comfort food. I especially loved the crispy, delicate outer shell that gave way to an explosion of gooey, molten cheese as I took a bite (careful, it comes out at quite a force!). The ham unfortunately vanished into the creamy richness of the cheese which made it almost absent from the experience.

Baklava

I squealed in excitement at the sight of the baklava, which for regular readers of the blog will know is one of my favourites. This is available in many places in Ely now, but these ones look particularly large cut.

The baklava was an absolute dream for anyone with a sweet tooth; it literally swam in syrup, which, in turn, ended up dripping down my arm. There’s zero chance of finding a dry piece here – you might even need a snorkel! 🤣

You could tell these were lovingly homemade, served in generous slices boasting dozens of delicate layers. Real love and care clearly went into crafting them – absolutely fantastic!

A unique experience in an already diverse foodie market

My latest visit to Ely Market, a place I thought I knew inside out, proved to be a delightful lesson in humility and discovery. Just when I assumed that I had sampled everything it had to offer, the vibrant red and black of the Albanian flag heralded an entirely new experience. From the moment I laid eyes on the fascinating array of dishes, I know I was in for a treat.

This unexpected Albanian food stall wasn’t just a new vendor but a firm reminder that there is always something new and delicious waiting to be discovered at the Ely Market. This is an absolute must for anyone looking for something different or for the foodie who has exhausted every option at the Ely market.

Alban Home Food & Catering can be found at Ely Market, Waterbeach, and Bury St Edmunds – follow their social media for more info