By Devon Zielinski
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
Answers lightly edited for clarity and punch.
Meet Your Cooling Expert: Eric Tom
When your restaurant’s packed, the line’s long, and everyone needs ice now, Eric Tom is the man you want in your corner. With 30 years in the foodservice industry and a standout decade at Hoshizaki, Eric knows a thing or two about keeping ice flowing in Dallas, Fort Worth, East Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Here, he dishes out his best advice and a little extra to keep things cool.
Friday nights at busy spots can be intense. How do you make sure an operator has enough ice without wasting money on extra storage?
It's all about simple math: count how many cups you serve with ice, multiply by roughly two pounds per guest, and you'll never sweat running out during rush hours.
Ice shapes, do they really matter? Which shapes do you recommend for which concept?
They absolutely matter! For fountain sodas, choose crescent cubes. They chill faster, melt slower, and keep your drink tasting right. If customers love chewing ice, nugget ice is king. Specialty bar drinks? Go with the elegant sphere or 2-inch cubes. For displays like seafood or therapy icing, use flake ice. And top hat ice? That’s best for smaller setups like offices or homes.
What are the top three field failures you see on commercial ice machines, and what simple habits would eliminate most of them?
First off, skipping filtration to save money is a costly shortcut. Hard water quickly gunks up machines, making maintenance expensive. Second, neglecting regular cleaning schedules means tougher, pricier service calls. And third, undersizing your machine sets you up for panic on busy days, always plan for growth.
Eric's Maintenance Must-Dos:
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Filtration First: Invest in quality water filtration.
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Keep it Clean: Stick to a regular cleaning schedule.
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Size Smart: Size machines anticipating your busiest times plus growth.
Smart tech is everywhere. Which ice machine smart tech actually matters?
There are definitely some smart features that are worth it. Features like guided cleaning prompts help staff quickly manage routine maintenance. Plus, remote monitoring can identify issues in advance, meaning technicians show up prepared, solving problems in one trip, saving you downtime and money.
Beyond ice, what’s new at Hoshizaki?
Everyone knows us for ice, but our Steelheart refrigeration line is fantastic, with 7-year warranties and solid top-mount designs. Recently, we launched a new budget-friendly series, Valiance, offering a great mix of affordability and reliability with a 3-year labor, 4-year parts, and 5-year compressor warranty. It's designed to protect your food cost while providing robust performance.
You're going on vacation soon (lucky!). If you could sip only one drink forever, what's your pick?
That's easy, a fine bourbon over a Hoshizaki 2-inch cube. Lately, I’m enjoying Smoke Wagon bourbon, especially their unfiltered 120 proof. Smooth, strong, perfect.
Need help picking the perfect ice or refrigeration setup? Contact USA Restaurant Suppliers. We'll handle the details so you can chill.