Couple combined their specialities to create new restaurant

ALBANY - Albert Worotikan met his wife Reba while studying hotel and restaurant management at Oregon State University. He specialized in Asian dishes. Her father owned a gelato shop. "I knew then that I married the perfect woman," Worotikan said. "She comes from four generations of restaurant owners."

Immediately, the Worotikans went into business together. For nine years, they owned a catering company in Corvallis that emphasized European-American foods. Since then, the couple and their sons relocated to North Albany and in January 2007 opened Spice and Ice, an Asian grill and gelato restaurant. "Our son (who also works at the restaurant) came up with the name," Worotikan said.

Amid troubling economic times, the Worotikans take pride in maintaining an immaculate restaurant, offering impeccable service, creating affordable dishes made with fresh ingredients, and providing a relaxing space for families to dine together.

"It looks like a fast food place, but you get more of a dining experience," Worotikan said. Italian tunes play in the background while Worotikan meanders to each table and checks in with his customers. Huge impressionist paintings line the walls and even with a large lunch crowd, Spice and Ice seems spacious.

In the future, Worotikan hopes to create franchises across Oregon but for now, Spice and Ice has garnered a strong customer base near Ray's Market. Worotikan noted that locals appreciate Spice and Ice's many vegetarian options, homemade gelato, and recycling initiatives. The restaurant provides reusable gelato dishes and spoons. Instead of offering styrofoam take-home boxes, Worotikan provides microwavable and dishwasher-safe containers.

"They keep them and it becomes advertising for us," Worotikan said. "They're friends ask where they got these 'great' containers."

- Lisa Anderson

SPICE AND ICE

CUISINE: "A fusion of Asia, Europe and America" - Asian grill and gelato.

WHERE: 637 Hickory St. N.W. in North Albany Village.

HOURS: Monday- Thursday 11a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday closed.

CONTACT:791-3430, www.spice

andicerestaurants.com or info@spiceandicerestaurants.com.

SPECIALTIES: Rice bowls (served all day, choice of entree, served with steamed white rice and a 16 oz soda), "roodles" (rice or noodles made to order as a meal by themselves), wok-takular (wok dishes created with fresh ingredients, sauce combinations, served with steamed rice and stir-fried yakisoba noodles), grill (charbroiled steak, ribs or chicken marinated in spice blends and grilled, served with steamed rice, yakisoba noodles, chili-ginger slaw and fresh fruit), vegetarian entrees, family style (take-out, serves 6 to 8), gelato (32 flavors), gelato cakes (custom created for number served, flavors, outside layers).

PRICES: $1.99-12.99, or $39.95 for family style. Average meal price: $7.22. Accepts all major credit cards, checks and cash.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Wheelchair accessible; vegetarian friendly; group friendly; reservations accepted, but not necessary except for large groups; take-out available; catering available; no alcohol; no TVs; no delivery; no drive-thru; no WiFi yet.

LOCAL: Yes; the Worotikans hope to franchise Spice and Ice across Oregon during the next few years.