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Image by Drew Beamer
Entertaining - Let's Party!
Time to Chill Out ...
With the IGLOO Counter Top Ice Maker

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About ...

I'm one of those annoying people who has to drink their beverages ice cold. We have an under the counter ice maker at home, but those models are expensive and take up a fair amount of space. We didn't want to invest that much, and really didn't have the space for an under the counter unit at our lakehouse. I was hesitant at first, because I thought, "will such a small unit really be all that helpful?" Turns out ... it is! LOL! We purchased the stainless IGLOO counter top model and it has turned out to be perfect for what we needed!

If you need more ice in your life, a portable counter top ice maker might be just what you need. It's certainly affordable - ranging in price from $80 to $120 and only needs about 10 inches of counter space. I chose the IGLOO brand because I've always been happy with their other products - this one is the same, I haven't been disappointed. To be sure, there are other fine icemakers out there, but this is the one that I know very well. The regular size unit makes 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours and has a self-cleaning function - you can select small or large cubes. The cylinder-shaped cubes fit perfectly into a bottle of water, genius!

A Few Thoughts ...

  • A portable, counter top ice maker is perfect for our remote location and eliminates the need for frequent trips for ice. At our lakehouse, it's 50 minutes round trip to run for ice! It's perfect for entertaining, when you just need extra ice ocassionally - keeping that gorgeous ice bucket of yours, filled to the brim! Perfect for work as well. 
  • ​The counter top feature eliminates the need and expense hiring a plumber to install water lines and drilling holes into the wall or floor, not to mention loosing valuabe floor and under counter space.

  • Just want to mention that because the ice is made so quickly, it is not super hard ice. We use it right out of the unit, but popping it into the freezer makes it super hard, so drinks stay cold, longer. We keep a covered container in the freezer and as the icemaker pumps out ice, we empty the basket into the container. If we are entertaining a crowd, we switch to filling bags of ice and store them in a cooler.

  • One last tip, the large cubes are made much more quickly than the small.

The Same Set of Beautiful Glassware for Any Occasion ...

 Duralex Glassware Made in France Since 1945

French Duralex Picardie Glass Filled with Cranberries
French Duralex Picardie Glassware in Three Sizes

The Picardie Collection

The Original French Tumbler in 5 Sizes

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French Duralex Picardie Glass with Smoothie

Other Duralex Styles

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About ... Duraflex in La Chapelle Saint Mesmin in the heart of France, invented the process of tempering glass and began producing the Picardie tumbler, and other glassware in 1945. The tumbler has remained in production ever since and is known as "the original and iconic French tumbler." All Duraflex glassware is suitable for hot or cold drinks and can withstand sudden thermal shock with their proprietary (top secret) process. The classic glassware is dishwasher safe, easily stackable, microwavable, 2 1/2 times more chip resistant than other glassware and offers the perfect weight, not to mention multiple styles to suit any taste and style.

Little Story ...I've owned a lot of glassware through the years and after much frustation with thin glassware - chips, dings, tipped drinks and glasses that shattered when they fell on a hardwood floor, I decided it was time to do some research. I wanted a classic style that would handle the rough & tumble of a busy extended family. From everyday use, to baby showers, to Thanksgiving dinner, I wanted glassware that would pivot with our social calendar and the holidays. About ten years ago, I was thrilled to find what I was looking for in the Duralex Picardie original French tumbler. I bought 12 Picardie tumblers in three different sizes and have been happy with them ever since! It's a heavy tumbler that doesn't tip over easily and the smallest size is perfect for generous shots or tastings. Unbelievably, I have never had one of them break when they have fallen on our hardwood floor. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not sure, but a duralex glass might break if dropped on a super hard floor like tile or concrete. Also, I wash my glassware by hand, but this glassware is considered dishwasher safe.

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