Glasgow police box brings a taste of the Alps to Merchant City

Childhood friends Robert Kieszek and Sebastian Masian have taken over the box on Wilson Street in Merchant City to serve raclette cheese sandwiches and zapiekanka a Polish cheesy baguette.  

The duo fell in love with raclette on a trip to the Alps a few years ago and decided to bring the traditional Swiss dish to Glasgow, with the sandwiches served straight from the cheese wheel onto artisan bread. 

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zapiekanka (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Robert explained: "We went to Switzerland and experienced raclette cheese for the first time ever and it was mind-blowing flavour wise. We loved the cheese so much.  

"We were thinking about opening a business together and then we came across the machine that you use to melt the raclette cheese and then you can just scrape it straight off the wheel onto the bread.  

"So, we started looking for locations in Glasgow."

Raclette (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Both born in 1988, Robert and Sebastian have known each other for 30 years and grew up together in Gdansk in Poland.  

They decided to also serve zapiekanka, a staple of Polish street food, because it is a "symbol of comfort and home" and they believe "people will love it".  

The Cheese Box will sell two versions of the raclette sandwich, four of the zapiekanka and they will also serve tea and coffee.  

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Raclette with gherkins (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Robert, who lives in Dennistoun, said: "The location is very small, its four foot by four foot, so because of the limited space we need to limit ourselves.  

"But at the same time, we don’t find it as limiting ourselves and can use this to focus on what’s important.  

"We can do less things but focus on flavour, how it’s going to be served. There’ll be small offering but something for everyone. 

"It’s a basic combination but at the same time so tasty, so amazing."

(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Robert moved to Glasgow 17 years ago and says he has seen the city’s food scene grow in that time and believes people are more open to trying new dishes.  

He said: "I came to Glasgow in 2007 and initially it was a very different city.  

"Now it’s changing, its growing, people are more adventurous to trying new things.  

"There’s a lot of places with nice sandwiches but this is the first place offering the raclette cheese sandwich straight from the wheel in front of people. 

"It’s a show as well to some extent."

(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

The Cheese Box officially opened on Monday, August 5 and for the first week, all food and drink items will cost £1 until stock lasts. 

Robert says he and Sebastian are "excited" and a "bit nervous" to open the business but they’ve been pleased with the response they’ve had so far.  

He added: "We had a small soft opening on July 29 and the feedback has been great so far. 

"People said they loved the cheese."

Cheese Box is located at 64A Wilson Street.