What's cooler than being cool? YOU are for checking out this blog post! 😎🧊 We're excited to collaborate with you to create an unforgettable bar experience for your upcoming event. Here we will discuss all things ice-related. It is an essential component of every great event, but it is often overlooked. Here at On Point, we understand how important it is, and we're here to make it easy!
Why Ice Guidelines Matter:
Ice isn't just about keeping drinks cool; it's a critical element in maintaining both the quality and safety of beverages served at your event. Proper handling and storage of ice are essential to ensure that your guests receive the safest and most efficient service possible. Here is how you can help us provide a seamless bar experience for you and your guests:
1. Bagged Ice:
Using bagged ice helps us deliver a seamless bar experience in several ways.
- Convenient for you: Bagged ice is readily available at grocery stores like Smart & Final, Food 4 Less, Safeway, and wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's Club. These pre-packaged bags are already food-grade, ensuring they meet hygiene standards for consumption.
- Efficient for your guests: Our team can easily transfer bagged ice into our consumption bins and use it to chill beverages without delays. This ensures a continuous flow of drinks throughout your event, keeping everyone refreshed and happy.
*What if I have access to a commercial ice machine?
Fantastic! This can save you the initial trip to the store, and maybe even save your bacon during the event, however there are a few things to consider. More on commercial ice machines later, but here is a link to purchase food-grade ice bags if you don't already have some.
2. Food-Grade Bags for Safety and Quality:
It's crucial that any ice you provide is stored in food-grade bags. Here’s why:
- Safety: Food-grade bags are designed to prevent contamination, maintaining high hygiene standards for your guests. This ensures that every drink served is safe and free from any harmful substances.
- Quality: By using food-grade bags, you help preserve the quality of the ice, preventing it from absorbing odors or flavors that could affect the taste of beverages.
**Note: Trash bags are not food-grade and should not be used to store ice.
While it may be convenient, trash bags are not designed for this purpose. They can impart chemicals and unwanted flavors, not to mention...nobody wants to see ice come from a trash bag before landing in their drink. 🫣
*More On Commercial Ice Machines:
A commerical ice machine can be an asset to your event! To be sure, you'll want to follow these guidelines:
Confirm the ice machine is in proper working order. Check with someone who knows! If the ice machine is unreliable, there is a shell-shocked staff member who can tell you all about it. If you have a coordinator, have them call or visit the venue to find out. (We are also more than happy to call to confirm these details ourselves, as it will improve the quality of our sleep 😌) Chances are that the machine receives regular maintenance and is in good working condition, but it's definitely not something you want to leave to chance.
Confirm your ice needs We will provide you with an estimate of how much ice you will need, but sometimes we are not the only ones who need ice. If you hired a caterer, you'll want to check with them also. It's also not a bad idea to review your vendor list and consider who else may need ice. If you haven't received your shopping list yet, or if ice was not on your shopping list, feel free to reach out for our recommendation.
Note the size of the ice machine to know how much ice it will yield. The larger your group, the more important this is, especially for longer events. Hosting a 5 hour event for 200 guests may require 500lbs of ice! You may need to start scooping it out LONG before your event starts in order to give the machine time to make more ice, especially if the bar isnt the only vendor using it.
Pro Tip: You can always opt for a few supplemental bags of ice, just in case. We're here, and more than happy to guide you through to make the right call.
Our Commitment to Excellence:
We're dedicated to making your event a resounding success, and proper ice handling plays a crucial role in achieving that. By following these simple guidelines, you contribute to a smooth operation and ensure that every drink served is of the highest quality.
Thank you for entrusting us with your event's bar service. We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines, as they significantly contribute to the overall success and enjoyment of your event.
Should you have any questions or need further clarification on these guidelines, please feel free to reach out to us. We're here to assist you every step of the way and ensure that your event is nothing short of extraordinary.
Cheers! 🥂
The On Point Team
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