THE HUMBLE SLUSHY HAS COME A LONG WAY (Catering Column

The humbleSlushy has come a long way

HOSPITALITY

• Restaurants • Bars • Clubs • Multi store • Wineries • Cafes

Clients can order ahead at their table, via a tablet, or using the self-service kiosk. The newly released Idealpos 8 does it all.

Foxtrot Unicorn Bar

It doesn’t matter what you call them – slushy, granita, slush or slurpee, cocktail machine, frozen beverages are all the rage. From cafes, petrol stations, fast food outlets serving granita style frozen beverages to festivals, house parties, pubs and clubs serving up your favourite frozen cocktails - it is clear we like our drinks cold, real cold.

So where did this popular beverage begin? Food historians trace granita back to ancient Arab, Greek and Roman traditions of chilling drinks with snow and ice. More likely by accident than intent, they discovered that if they left the sweet wines and juices common of that era in ice too long, they became slushy. Thus, the granita was born. More recently the idea for a slushed ice drink started in the late 1950s when Omar Knedlik’s soda machine broke down and he began placing the bottles of soda in the freezer to keep them cold. This caused the sodas to become slush. So, Omar started selling the frozen sodas and they became popular with his customers, which gave him the idea to make a machine to help create a slushy. To develop his slushy machine, Knedlik partnered with the John E Mitchell Company, a manufacturing firm in Dallas that made automobile and truck air-conditioners. Knedlik later patented his invention in 1960, starting the birth of the modern slushy machine. With Perth’s amazing weather and our fondness of cocktails, it is easy to see why the humble slushy has grown in popularity. For hospitality, they offer a quick and efficient welcome drink for large events and functions. They are also perfect at trade shows for marketing and bringing guests to your stand. With our perfect summer days and nights, bars and clubs benefit from a variety of cocktails on tap with consistent alcohol percentages, perfect for RSA requirements and profit margins. With the advent of social media, a new world of possibilities opened our eyes to new and innovative ways of doing things. A great example was the introduction of the Frosé (frozen Rosé) used at many Weddings and Hens Nights served straight from the slushy machine.

So, now you are wondering how you get one for your venue or event. If you have a venue, you can look at buying the machine outright, but you might want to investigate leasing, as you will normally only use it 6 months of the year. If it is for a one-off event there are several hire companies in Perth; just keep in mind that slushies are a consumable product and you should ensure you hire from a reputable company.

By Clint Gurney of Cosmic Cocktails & Events

Pappagallo Cafe Pizzeria

• Labour reducing self service kiosk • Compact Tablet solution for more space and mobility • Most user friendly POS screen

Scutti Fresh

Unit 8 224 Balcatta Rd, Balcatta PH: (08) 9240 2700 www.cashregister.com.au