"Sandwich bread does well when stored in a plastic bag; it locks in moisture which keeps the crust soft. But too much mosture will create mould, so I've found it's best not to keep the bag airtight.
Use bread to mop up all the lovely juices - slightly stale is best as it will hold together better. For the aïoli, peel the garlic and remove the central green germ from any of the cloves.