Elite Event @ Piece

Having worked in the area nearby until a little over a year ago, I was already aware of, and indeed a fan of, Piece. Great name for a sandwich shop, I’ve always thought! I reckon they make the best coleslaw I’ve ever had, the inclusion of red cabbage makes it that bit different to the usual ‘slaws. However, this event was to launch a new menu, which is now even better than before, which I wouldn’t have thought possible! The sandwiches all have distinctive names, my favourite being the Pastrami Special, although I am not a gherkin fan so offloaded those onto a friend who was more than happy to overdose on them! I think I managed to try one of each of the sandwich samples, apart from Coronation Chicken, I think I was too late to get one of those!
Thanks to Piece I have discovered a sandwich filling I would never have imagined of, mackerel and beetroot, known as the Smack Down. The sweet beetroot cuts through the smoky, peppery mackerel and is simply wonderful. If you’re not a fishy fan, however, there are plenty of other delights to get your tastebuds tingling! I’d recommend the Fat Boy, chunky egg mayo, a generous helping of cheddar, and thick cut, real ham, not the crappy processed slices you buy at the local supermarket. Another fantastic one was The Inquisitor, chorizo, manchego cheese and a bit of balsamic, fantastic! (I had 2 of that one!!) Some tasty crisps placed conveniently in nearby bowls added an extra crunch to the sandwiches.
Of course, all that bread is a bit dry, so you need something to wash it down with, right? Cue the Williams Brothers beers! Ranging from an alcoholic ginger beer, to an IPA (Joker) and a lager, through a few ‘real ale’ types, t here was a wide selection. William Brothers are a small (ish) Scottish brewery who are fast gaining a reputation as ones to watch in the beer world. Following a ‘craft beer’ tradition similar to Arran Brewery or Brewdog, they make small batches of their delicious beers, which are available in selected pubs and up-​market off-​licences.
Chris D was his usual affable self, playing host, but also encouraging the Piece staff to mingle and explain the sandwich fillings to us hungry Unilocalers. It was an excellent, fun night, and my first Elite event, so I got to meet a few of the ‘old guard’ too. Any time I’m in the Finnieston area and feeling a bit peckish, there’s really only one place I’ll be heading to from now on, to Piece for a piece!

chris d. is awesome
holy mackerel beet root
good booze fancy eats
Oh, you know, just hanging out in Scotland, meandering in Finnieston like I own the place. Looky there! Free Unilocal stuffs!
I am sad, but also happy to say, this was my first Unilocal elite event. And it was a hell of a way to start off my trip to Glasgow. I figured, who can give me THE BEST advice about the city? Unilocalers of course. And after stuffing myself with sandwiches and a few delicious beers, I managed to get the inside scoop, and walk around the west end inebriated with kind strangers.
When I return to Glasgow, I will for sure return to Piece for fond memories, a mackerel and beet root sandwich, and to read the adventures of Chuck Norris.

Great sandwiches — check.
Lush beer — check.
Great people — check.
WOAH! It’s like Chris D (of Unilocal fame) OPENED UP MY BRIAN AND LOOKED INSIDE. Scary, you may say, but also it is full of snippets of my grey cells going ‘Sandwich!’ ‘Beer!’ ‘Good people!’ so to have all these delightful things in the one place/​event was super great.
Every sandwich I had was tasty as feck; was told by the über lovely Piece dudes that I had to try the Pastrami Special (?) one. OH. MY. GAWD. Amazing sarnie indeed! So so much tastier than any other pastrami-​based sandwich I’d ever tasted. If I lived or worked closer to Piece then it would deffo be my cheeky wee sandwich-​treat shop that of a Friday (or depressing Monday) I would go in, grab a superb sandwich and the world would be alright again.
Didn’t realise I’d actually been here before ~ only came in for coffee (no sarnies left) but as they were close to closing time a nice guy gave us some free croissants to munch on! BONUS. I thought then what lovely people and a really cool place.
Plus these Piece guys LOVE their sandwiches ~ they told me of all their hard (and sometimes drunken) research that goes into their creations and how most of the ingredients are produced in store, lovingly. Nae Asda Smart Price ham in this joint! Uh-​uh. Gotta love that enthusiasm and passion. They said because they care so much about every single sandwich they produce/​craft that means they do run out of certain favourite ones quite quickly some days but rather than go bish-​bash-​bosh and make a half-​hearted sanny they say to the hungry customer ‘No my friend, I’m afraid we have no more of that particular sandwich BUT we do have this…’ and offer other, tasty alternatives. You just have to trust these guys.
Thanks Chris D, Piece dudes & Unilocal — another splendid Elite Event indeed.

Mmmm sandwiches!
I never stop in the Finnieston area, only sometimes drive through it so it was nice to stop by and get a ‘Piece’ of the action. Get it? Get it?
I am quite fussy about what I like on my pieces, so was interested to see what they had to offer. They explained what was what and I got stuck right in. My favourite was the corination chicken. Another one? Oh, ok then! Nom nom!
Chat was good, freebies good and food super good. Chris D. I don’t know how he does it, but he always finds the coolest joints in town with the nicest staff.
Well done again!

Man, I have been away too long.
After missing three elite events in a row, I was wondering if they were as good as I remember them. Also, how good an event could you have in a sandwich shop. What are we going to do — chat around the lettuce and gaze at the mayo bottles?
So, as I arrived Chris was artistically distributing the Unilocal Swag about the place.
And what a place. These guys looked serious about what they do.
They had your regular bread and meat concoctions on the boards. But Green Peppercorn Salami with home-​made mayo, artisan cheese and beetroot pickle. Wow.
These are sandwiches but not as you know them. These guys ave punched past the competition and put themselves on a whole new playing field. Centrally located on the Argyle, get yourself in here just the once. I know I am coming back.
Then Chris brings out the secret packages from the back. Six cases of Williams Brothers out of the Alloa Brewery. Seriously sweet.
A couple new bottles I have not tried before and some old standards. I left Fraoch and Joker for the tourists and settled down with the New Ceilidh Lager and the Gold Ale. Flipping marve