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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Sophie Buchan

Glasgow's west end sandwich shop 'paying it forward' with free coffee or meal

Le Petit Coq is Glasgow's newest addition to our food scene with it becoming the latest sandwich shop to open its doors located in the west end of the city.

Welcoming the public for the first time on March 8 of this year, the staff have been inundated with support from Glaswegians and local businesses with people from across Scotland coming to pay them a visit.

And to return the support, the team have now started a 'Pay It Forward' scheme - aimed at helping others in the local area by offering them a free coffee or meal.

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The French inspired sandwicherie, with a play on the words, comes from the team behind Oui Knob of Butter, who regularly appear at local markets including Park Lane in Shawlands, Chatelherault Country Park as well as Uddingston Market.

The dog-friendly cafe has had queues out the door with it boasting some mouth-watering sandwiches, tartineries, French onion soup and freshly baked bread - including the all important Croissants.

Talking to Glasgow Live about the idea behind Pay It Forward, owner Jules Bal said that when he lived abroad, there were many cafes around that would help those in need.

He said: "When I lived in Melbourne, a lot of small cafes always caught my attention seeing big boards with colourful post it notes with meals and it was basically just to help out anyone who was struggling.

"So I just thought I'd introduce it to Byres Road."

Speaking about how it works, he said the idea behind the scheme is that "people come in, and instead of leaving a tip they will pay for someone's coffee or someone's meal and then write a wee note anonymously, stick it on the fridge and then people walk past, they can get a free coffee or a free meal."

People have already started to use it with the owner adding: "Lots of people are coming in for their coffee and everyone that's coming in has seen it through the socials. But at least once or twice a day people will come in, so the wall is getting bigger."

Despite having only opened at the start of this month, the local community have been welcoming to the latest west end addition. He said: "The first week was more friends and family but then by Friday, it was locals and then during the weekend it was a lot of folk from way outside Glasgow from places like Hamilton, Motherwell and Edinburgh - they're a big fan of our butter, and came especially for us which was amazing."

With a successful homemade artisanal butter business behind him, there was always a plan behind the scene to open up his own shop.

He explained: "I've always wanted to open a cafe and then this unit became available. I was playing around with names for the cafe so le Petit Coq came along, similar to Oui Knob.

Le Petit Coq have the notes on their fridge for those who need it. (Sophie Buchan/Glasgow Live.)

Having grown up in southwestern France and son to a French chef, Jules explained with a whole generation of family from the country, he is trying to keep the theme going saying he wants to "do what I do best and that's French food".

Unsurprisingly with his pastries, sandwiches and French Onion Soup - a recipe from his Oui nan - the Glasgow community has been "very welcoming" with the chef revealing that the "neighbours have come in and said 'well done' and seem pretty content with having me around which is amazing."

Reflecting on growing up in a kitchen, he said: "All of my memories are me on a window sill in a restaurant in his kitchen cooking so I've always been involved with food.

"I've always done my best to stay away from working in a kitchen. I've seen the stress and the long hours and I've never wanted to do that and then slowly after management of restaurant and bars, I went more into cooking which is what pushed me to this and running my own kitchen."

Taking over the unit at the end of December, it was a quick turnaround with the date of Le Petit Coq's opening also unknowingly coinciding with the date Jules' father opened his first restaurant, exactly 30 years ago to the day.

You can follow Le Petit Coq on Instagram and keep up-to-date with the small business here.

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