Lavender-infused cocktails, Croatian truffles, flatbread, bite-size desserts — and now it seems the latest in trendy food is… ice. Believe it or not, ice is considered a food by many frozen-water connoisseurs. According to a recent article in the New York Times, some people are so into ice as a food that they purchase commercial ice machines for their homes.

Ice: The Latest in Trendy Food

Call them obsessed, call them “ice snobs” — either way, one thing is for sure: ice is the latest trendy food. And one thing pointed out in the New York Times article is that ice can actually improve the quality of a drink. Besides that, ice can complement the kind of drink it’s cooling, whether it’s cube ice in a mixed drink or fragmented ice for soda.

Commercial Ice Machines in the Home

So why buy a commercial ice machine for your own home? Well, there are a few reasons. One is that some believe ice made in home refrigerators winds up tasting like the smells inside the freezer. Another reason is that some complain home refrigerator-made ice does not cool drinks well and melts too fast. Worse, still, is large, crescent-shaped ice some refrigerators produce — it takes up too much room and typically hits you in the face as you sip. Having ice with a great texture and shape is something ice connoisseurs just have to have.

Buying a Commercial Ice Machine

If you’re serious about ice as a food, consider buying a commercial ice machine. ShortOrder carries Manitowoc ice machines, which are well-known for their quality and reliability. Manitowoc ice machines at ShortOrder can produce nugget ice, flake ice, half size cubes and more. Even if you don’t own a restaurant or bar, it doesn’t mean you can’t have your very own commercial ice machine.

Manitowoc fans will be happy to hear that a Manitowoc blog has launched at ShortOrder.com. Now, when you come to browse our restaurant and commercial kitchen equipment, you’ll be able to read the latest about Manitowoc products, including Manitowoc ice machines. Check out the Manitowoc blog is at manitowoc.shortorder.com.

Manitowoc and ShortOrder are Cookin’

Manitowoc and Short Order are cookin’ — take a look at the Manitowoc commercial kitchen equipment ShortOrder offers, and stay informed about the latest products and news at the Manitowoc blog. The recipient of many Editor’s Choice awards from ShortOrder, Manitowoc ice machines and other equipment are the industry standard for a reason. And ShortOrder is proud to carry Manitowoc restaurant equipment.

Manitowoc: A History of Success

Not only does Manitowoc make great commercial kitchen equipment, but they’re also a great company. Based in Wisconsin, Manitowoc started in 1964. The company is all about designing and manufacturing outstanding restaurant equipment. Customers have come to know and trust the Manitowoc name.

Knowing that customers would appreciate saving money on operating costs, Manitowoc takes care to make restaurant equipment that performs efficiently. Besides that, Manitowoc also keeps in mind while designing and manufacturing the importance of food safety. Every step of the way, Manitowoc is concerned about their customers.

Manitowoc Blog Features New Products, Other News

Manitowoc has a reputation for being one of the best in the restaurant industry, a name that people can trust. So it’s only fitting that ShortOrder has a blog dedicated to Manitowoc, where customers can stay informed about the company. Expect news regarding Manitowoc, including new Manitowoc products soon to be released. And another great way to stay informed about what’s going in the industry is to read ShortOrder’s restaurant equipment blog. ShortOrder is proud to provide helpful information, including the Manitowoc Blog, to restaurant owners and kitchen equipment buyers.

Ice Machine Slime Is An Important Maintenance Issue

Ice machine owners may be getting slimed without knowing it.

Ice machine slime is more than a funny-sounding phrase that evokes fond memories of watching Bill Murray in Ghostbusters at the matinee. For restaurant equipment owners, ice machine slime is a real health hazard that can run a kitchen afoul of the health inspector and possibly shut down a thriving foodservice business.

The Gory Details on Ice Machine Slime

Ice machine slime is such a prevalent hazard that muckraking Houston newsman Marvin Zindler made the sentence “Slime in the ice machine!” a household phrase along the Texas coastline. Ice machine slime isn’t deadly to healthy adults, but still, it can be harmful. It also has a distinctive taste and smell, and can be visually disgusting to your customers. Here’s what the City of Houston says:

It is a type of mold or fungus that accumulates from bacterial growth on surfaces that are constantly exposed to clinging water droplets and warm temperatures. Water residuals may be present on these surfaces due to machine construction or the presence of scouring utensils such as steel wool or scouring pads. If the residuals are left exposed and not wiped clean or the machine is not sanitized regularly, you will then see bacteria and mold growths in the moist, cool environment of your ice machine. Most times, slime will take on a pinkish tone; if left untreated, the pink will turn to red, green, brown and even black ropes of slime hanging from the freezer panels inside the machine after a while. Pretty picture, isn’t it?

Green and pink ropes of slime hanging in your ice machine and dropping in customers’ drinks… it may not be fatal, but it could soon be sending your once-healthy clients to the lab for some health tests.

The Ice Machine Slime Answer

If for example you’ve got ice machine slime in your favorite Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0852A, how do you handle the problem?

The Houston health inspectors recommend using quarternary ammonium (QAC), which kills the mold/fungus and also inhibits additional growth for a period of time after the slime has been removed. This chemical won’t react with the stainless steel of your SD-0852A, and it’s also handy for keeping slime out of other restaurant equipment like your soda machine or the nozzles and hoses of your direct draw systems.

For other ice machine buying tips and maintenance advice, check out our ice machine buyers guide!

Manitowoc Earnings Break Records

The Manitowoc Company earlier this month reported record-breaking first quarter net sales and earnings per share. Manitowoc’s first quarter net sales reached $1.1 billion, a 44 percent increase from 2006’s fourth quarter. And 2007’s fourth quarter net earnings per diluted share ($0.76) more than doubled 2006’s fourth quarter net earnings per diluted share ($0.35). Manitowoc ice machines reported earnings per diluted share for 2007, at $2.64, represents a 100 percent increase from 2006.

Manitowoc President and CEO Glen E. Tellock expressed in a press release early this month his confidence that Manitowoc’s 2008 report will reflect 2007’s successes. Manitowoc’s Foodservice Group was a strong contributor to its 2007 fiscal record-breaking. Manitowoc Foodservice Group’s “new-product pipeline has helped drive improved top-line performance and increased operating leverage” in 2007, said Tellock.

Manitowoc Ice Machines Are a Good Buy in the Foodservice Industry

Even though the foodservice industry has recently undergone strains on capital spending, Manitowoc ice machines still remain a good buy. Due to the Manitowoc Company’s persistence with advanced energy-saving designs, Manitowoc ice machines save more energy for its customers than any of its competitors. These strengths have increased Manitowoc revenue and margins throughout all quarters in 2007.

Manitowoc ice machines are as reliable as the seasons

Manitowoc ice machine weather has arrived. But it never left. As fall embraces us, bringing with it the chilly prospect of winter, we at Shortorder.com are still happy to have Manitowoc ice machines in our diverse selection of restaurant equipment. You see, the weather may be turning cooler, but diners and bar patrons still need ice in their drinks to give them the proper zing. Manitowoc ice machines are all-season restaurant equipment.

Manitowoc ice machines also are recognized for their all-season reliability. In fact, in November 2006, America’s #1 selling ice machine was again chosen as “Overall Best in Class” in the ice machines category by the readers of the restaurant equipment publication Foodservice Equipment & Supplies. This wasn’t the first time, either. Manitowoc ice machines have won this award for six years running. The award, chosen based on the votes of restaurant equipment buyers, dealers, and distributors, recognizes the excellence in quality, service, and support that are synonymous with the phrase “Manitowoc ice machine.”

For example, take the Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0452A. A Short Order editors choice, this stainless-steel-clad Manitowoc ice machine earns points for low operating costs, ease of maintenance, and superb reliability. The Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0452A just sits in your restaurant, bar, or kitchen, punching out 450 pounds of cube-style ice every day, rain or shine, and looking good doing it.

If you’re thinking of an ice machine for your establishment, take a peek at our ice machine buyer’s guide, a straightforward document that will help you narrow down your choices and make an ice machine buying decision that fits your needs. And don’t forget - every Manitowoc ice machine you buy at Shortorder.com comes with free onsite setup.