Maria Chehab
Whether you are treating yourself or buying a Christmas gift, there’s a mouthwatering choice for every taste at Maison Samadi
Maison Samadi is an elegant, rather discreet shop. You may have noticed that the chocolatier, which is located between Chiswick and Hammersmith (close to Ravenscourt Park), always has exquisitely tempting window displays. However, only those in the know will be aware of its remarkable nationwide reputation.
Only this year, LuxLife Magazine awarded Maison Samadi the title of London’s Most Outstanding Family-Run Chocolatier and Travel Awaits, a luxury lifestyle online magazine with 50 million subscribers, ranked it as one of the Best Nine Chocolate Shops in the UK and among the top two in London.
Maria Chehab opened Maison Samadi five years ago. Previously, she had focused on the hospitality market, for example supplying gifts to hotels such as The Ritz, The Dorchester and The Mandarin Oriental. The King Street shop was Maria’s first venture into selling chocolates – from single treats and gift boxes to food baskets and hampers – direct to the public, and it has proved very popular.
In so doing, Maria has built on a remarkable family heritage. ‘My great grandfather, Muhieddine Samadi, started the business in 1872 in Beirut,’ she explains. ‘Hassan Samadi, my grandfather, took over when he was 15 after his father’s death, and he made the Samadi name synonymous with outstanding quality and taste; my uncles then expanded the brand across the Middle East and to London. I’m so proud to be following in their footsteps.’
All Maison Samadi chocolates are handmade using the finest, high quality ingredients. ‘They contain no alcohol or animal fat except cow’s milk,’ says Maria. ‘Each chocolate is individually wrapped and the gifts are handdecorated by skilled artisans. I believe that the eye eats before the mouth, and that a gift, even if it’s one chocolate, should look beautiful.’
Maria herself devises the recipes (‘my training was growing up in my family’) and she is always developing products: new this year is a range of honey and a sticky date cake with coffee and pecans. The chocolate choice is extraordinary: milk, dark, white, ’no added sugar’, vegan, truffles, chocolate-coated dried fruits, almonds and stuffed dates, petit gateaux, macaroons, marrons glacés, nougat, chocolate bars …
The selection process is a key part of the fun at Maison Samadi. ‘Customers are welcome to try before buying,’ smiles Maria. ‘We love that. They can have a coffee – that’s the best complement to chocolate – and tell us what they prefer and whether they have any allergy issues. Then, we will help put together a bespoke gift box (prices start from £5) to suit every taste and budget.’
Maria and her friendly team have many years’ experience in catering for weddings and engagement parties, baby showers and corporate events (Maison Samadi has a dedicated corporate gifting service). ’We can create a design with customised decoration and colours that fits any theme,’ she says. ‘Also, we do the wrapping in the same individual way: I feel personal presentation adds another layer of luxury.
‘The philosophy of Maison Samadi is: the Joy of Living, the Pleasure of Giving. We’re passionate about what we do and we aim to give every customer a wonderful experience.’
SPECIAL OFFER: Chiswick Locals readers can claim a 5% discount on purchases at Maison Samadi. Please quote code Keep05. Valid until 23/12/2021.
Maison Samadi
301 King Street
Hammersmith W6 9NH
07775 730133
contact@maisonsamadi.com
http://www.maisonsamadi.com
https://www.facebook.com/MaisonSamadi
https://twitter.com/maisonsamadi
https://www.instagram.com/maisonsamadi
Photography: #AnnabelMoellerPhotography
https://www.instagram.com/annabelmoellerphotography