An interesting observation I had moving to Davis back in 1999 was the number of Chinese restaurants in this little city. Today, about 16 Chinese restaurants are operating in Davis, including Panda Express. One of these restaurants is tucked in an office building that houses The Golden 1 Credit Union on Second Street in downtown Davis. If not for the name painted on the side of the building and hidden behind trees that line D Street, those who are not familiar with Hunan Bar and Restaurant will pass it not knowing it ever existed. However, once you enter the office building, the bright red neon signs of the restaurant will undoubtedly steal your first glance.

Reviewing Hunan Bar and Restaurant for the Davis Life Magazine was my first assignment. I welcomed the idea with open arms since I, like many of you, love to eat good Chinese food. Having been to China and having lived in San Francisco for many years eating some of the best Chinese food, I felt I had enough ammunition to give the readers a true picture of Hunan.

It was a warm Thursday evening in June when I had to get over my prejudice against neon signs on restaurants and proceeded right in to meet Cary Arnold and her husband Jon Sanchez, my