Tag Archives: Chiswick

Armstrong Cuthbert Hairdressing, Chiswick

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Armstrong Cuthbert thrives on its independent, boutique appeal. Located on sunny, family filled Chiswick High Road, the salon is friendly with a welcoming buzz. I have often walked past and been intrigued by the flurry of activity inside. Dashing in after a frantic day, I was instantly calmed by the staff who sat me down and reappeared with a glass of cold water and magazines.

The salon has smart modern décor, and has recently been refurbished restoring it to tip top condition. Flourishing from word of mouth recommendations, Armstrong Cuthbert has become established as one of Chiswick’s most popular and highly regarded salons. When seated, I surveyed the crowd and could see how the clientele varies, their professional and experienced knowledge of hairdressing unsurprisingly attracts all ages. Though of course it is most often filled with Turnham Green’s yummy mummies!

I hadn’t washed my hair for a few days (apparently hair dye takes better to greasy hair), so was feeling particularly excited about having my hair revitalised. My stylist came by to assess my situation and we quickly decided on lighter, creamier blonde streaks to eliminate the dull khaki tones and remedy the very dark roots problem. The highlighting didn’t seem to take as long as usual, but perhaps that was just because I was having such a lovely chat with my gorgeous stylist! It was like catching up with an old friend. She was efficient and expertly used the foils to create the most natural colouring.

After the bleach had worked its magic, I was taken over to the comfy chairs for an intensive conditioning treatment. The full indulgence rebuilds, rebalances and restores your hair. It was put in my hair before a full head, neck, back and shoulder massage. My hair was blow dried and gently curled to give a sophisticated 1950s look, which is apparently very on trend at the moment! Despite closing at 6pm, the staff here continued to work till 6.25 perfecting my coiffure.

If you live in Chiswick you must try Armstrong Cuthbert, and if you don’t you now have a reason to visit this quaint area of London.

Find Armstrong Cuthbert’s website to book here.

Brunch at Sam’s Brasserie, Chiswick

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Chiswick is seriously underrated… a picturesque area of London that I am proud to still consider home, even now I’ve moved slightly further out. With this in mind, I have made a promise to myself to explore and review the area more thoroughly, sampling the gorgeous eateries and boutique shops that line the streets. On a very rainy Sunday morning, along with a fellow Chiswick promoter, I went to try brunch at Sam’s Brasserie located very conveniently on the High Road.

My family have already raved about Sam’s to me, a large informal restaurant and bar with a relaxed ambience and friendly approach to dining. Brunch is a meal they do particularly well. The menu is inventive and diverse with recipes to suit every preference. Most dishes seem simple with a real emphasis on using the best produce possible. Brunch certainly has a New York twist… I instantly spotted buttermilk pancakes on the list, a breakfast dish I sampled many times in America.

Drooling over the menu, eventually we decided on three dishes to share between us… I must take full responsibility for this greedy ordering! Obviously I chose the Buttermilk Pancake Stack, opting for the blueberry compote and crème fraiche topping, though smokey bacon and maple syrup sounded equally delicious. They were without doubt the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted, arriving still hot, light and spongy in texture, with a slightly crisp edge. A dollop of crème fraiche and tart juicy blueberries provided the perfect accompaniment. My friend chose the Scrambled Eggs, chorizo and cherry tomatoes, one of the many egg options on the brunch menu. It looked fluffy and divine, seasoned perfectly with salty chorizo and sweet ripe tomatoes – a slightly more exotic version of the classic scrambled eggs on toast. We also shared the New York Style Steak Sandwich with onions, cheese, French’s Mustard and chips. It was a huge sandwich filled with gooey goodness, a lovely combination of ingredients, good quality lean steak, caramelised sloppy onions, and peppery mustard, served with yummy salted skinny fries. The portions were very generous, beautifully but simply presented, a foodie’s delight.

Sadly the fresh orange juice machine had broken, so instead I tried the fresh pressed apple juice, lovely and sweet and the most gorgeous shade of pale green. My friend ordered a peach and pineapple smoothie, which arriving in a tall glass and looked like the ideal cocktail… a dash of Malibu and it would have been! Preoccupied by the array of food we forgot all about tea and coffee, but remembering just in time it was a lovely end to the epic brunch. A harsh coffee critic, I found my cappuccino a little lukewarm though the flavour was rich and smooth.

Prices are very reasonable… for example only £6.75 for a hefty stack of pancakes, a dish that would certainly satisfy even the emptiest of stomachs… I would happily have brunch at Sam’s every weekend. I would love to visit for dinner and cocktails, I believe the atmosphere and food would be equally exemplary.

Visit the website here for more information.

I’d love to hear your suggestions for other Chiswick places that are worth reviewing… comment below.