China 1 Champions Gate(exit 58 on I4 )

[Susie]

Hi

I would like to thank George of China 1, Champions Gate, Davenport Florida for supporting our group


George has kindly offered a discount for memebers so;


If you mention #expatsvoice# you will be given a 10% discount for local delivery call

1-866 244 6224

[floridapete]

Whilst I am quite sure that most of the local Ex-pats in that area will know China 1 very well indeed, Susie, you may like to have this re-print of an article which I did for "FBC News" in 2003 and which George now has displayed (proudly) in his window at ChampionsGate.

"SERVICE WITH A SMILE !"

It was a diabolical night as I drove Jean and our American friends out for dinner. Driving through this torrential waterfall, I was hardly able to see the white road markings on US27 ! Turning onto the quieter, even darker CR54, I searched for the narrow entry into the Championsgate Golf Complex from the rear. We were heading for the Publix shopping plaza at Championsgate where we had recently discovered a wonderful Chinese Restaurant which we wanted our local friends to experience with us.

As we arrived outside of “CHINA 1” I was concerned how our guests would make it from the car park without getting soaked. I needn’t to have worried - there was George, the restaurant owner himself, awaiting our arrival with a large golf umbrella and a broad welcoming smile on his face. Service with a smile indeed !

Once inside his small and friendly place we found a nice table to suit (we tried the booths first but we preferred the space of a larger, round table) and settled down to peruse the extensive menu whilst munching on the complimentary crispy noodles and chinese tea.

Now I know that there are many places in Central Florida where you can eat what purports to be Chinese food - but most are of them are ‘all you can gorge’ buffet style with dishes set out in constantly warmed cabinets which give me some concerns for health and safety. They are also mostly “monosodium glutamate city” and rather heavy on the salt. So they are not what we are used to as ‘really good’ Chinese back home. And, frankly, we don’t like all, this ‘serve yourself stuff’ - we like to be attended, waited on, even pampered a little !

Very soon our charmingly quiet young lady server came to take our order. None of that “Hi I’m Tracey and I‘ll be your server this evening!” stuff. No, just a quiet enquiry if we were ready to order in a gracious manner.

I had heard that one of the house specialities was “General Tso’s Chicken” so I went for that. Jean had Shrimp with Cashew Nuts while our friends decided on Five Flavours Pork and Shrimp with vegetable. While we were waiting, and chatting, I noticed quite a lot of business at the ‘take away’ counter so this place is obviously very popular with all the locals and renters in the CR54 and US 27 area. Meanwhile, we munched on the crispy noodles and sipped our tea !

Surprisingly soon our dishes were ready, presented elegantly and efficiently by our young chinese lady server. We were provided with warmed plates (a novelty in itself compared with some places) and copious dishes of boiled and fried rice. Chopsticks were available for the braver souls !

My “Colonel Tso’s chicken” turned out to be hefty chunks of chicken breast in a ‘glaze’ style coating, cooked in a spicy sauce, not unlike a sweet and sour. With my fried rice it was extremely enjoyable. Jeans dish came with succulent shrimp and lots of crunchy cashew nuts in a soya-based gravy sauce with ‘stir-fry’ vegetables. Our guests’ Five Flavours Pork was a banquet in itself with sliced chinese pork in various styles and flavours with vegetables in variety.

We mixed and matched the dishes with our friends and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. In fact the portions were so generous that we actually had to ask for a ‘box’ for our leftovers. Something which we have steadfastly refused to do ever before in 12 years !

As we felt so ‘stuffed’ by now we had no room left for anything else by way of desert. However, the meal had been very good value and the bill for four came to somewhere in the region of $80.00 or so including glasses of wine. We will certainly go again - even though it is quite a long way from where we are based north of Kissimmee !

As we were leaving I engaged our host in complimentary conversation. He was keen to tell us that he would soon be opening another location close to the Premier Labels Outlet Mall at Vineland Village on International Drive South, and very close to the new Dolly Parton Dinner Show which opens later this year (2003) ! [Did that ever happen George ?]

CHINA 1 Chinese Restaurant, 8307 Championsgate Blvd., Championsgate, FL33896. Tel. Toll free 1 866 244 6224. Take Exit 24 off I/4 or access via US 27 and CR54 (Ronald Reagan Parkway)."

[charliesmum]

I agree - one of the best chinese places around.

Zoe

[Kitty]

OOOOh, I love Chinese food, I look forwared to my next trip to pay George a visit,

regards Kitty

[punky]

I always go there for a chinese, easily the best Chinese place I have been in, in the UK or US.

[kimmy]

we always have a take away on saturday night the food is always good
he is opening another resturant at cagens crossing on the 27

[chez&rob]

If you love your chinese food then you have to try ZEN at the OMNI at champion's gate, alittle more pricey than your usual places but VERY nice food and the staff and very welcoming.

[Susie]

Quick update

George is no longer at Champions Gate and moved to Cagons Crossing

[easyrob]

Hi All,

We found George's restaurant tonight, it's actually at the end of the 192 near the 27 facing Bahama Bay and it's called Mr Kong's.
They have a fantastic chef and the food is really good plus he's made some new additions to the menu.
We recommend it.

Cherie & Rob