Cottonrake Bakery, and a sandwich so good it hurts
Sometimes the simplest things in life are best, like the Ayrshire ham and Gruyère baguette at Cottonrake Bakery in Glasgow's West End
Putting ham and cheese between bread is hardly revolutionary. In the world of sandos packed deep with wild flavour pairings, it’s positively quaint. Sure, it’s a classic combo but an unimaginative one. It’s the kind of sturdy sarnie that your mum might have whipped up for you in a pinch after football practice when you were a kid, or what you might clumsily assemble after you stumble home half-cut from the pub, crestfallen that your local kebab shop has closed early. It’s not the sandwich you’d actually order out, right? Well if this is your mentality, you're missing out on one of the best food experiences any Scottish establishment has to offer: the Ayrshire ham and Gruyère baguette from Glasgow’s heaven-sent Cottonrake Bakery.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I dream of this sandwich. I discovered it sometime in the middle of 2022 after joining Cottonrake's queue, which this weekend was halfway down Bank Street. I had come for one of their legendary sourdough loaves but it’s the sandwich I ordered on a whim to stave off some mid-morning hunger that's brought me back again and again. The ingredients are simple but bursting with flavour. A savoury bomb of cured ham hits first, followed by the mellow, nutty tanginess of the creamy Gruyère and the slightest kick of mustard, but it’s the bread that takes this to a higher plain. It’s a sourdough baguette so crispy it hurts. Small bites and careful chewing are required to avoid shredding the soft palate of your upper mouth, which might sound like a drawback but the result is that you're forced to savour every mouthful.
The food options in Glasgow's West End are endless, but I contest there’s nothing better than taking one of these baguettes to Kelvingrove and going to town. Throw in one of Cottonrake’s custard tarts and you’ve a world-class picnic. Just be prepared for your gums to bleed and for your dreams to be commandeered.
Cottonrake, 497 Great Western Rd, Glasgow; Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm, Sun, 9am-4pm
cottonrake.com / @cottonrake on Instagram
This article is from issue one of GNAW, our new food and drink magazine dedicated to sharing stories from across Scotland’s food scene. Pick up a free copy from venues across Scotland, and follow GNAW on Instagram @gnawmag