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Christiana Chiang chuckles at the thought that her new restaurant’s advertising might raise eyebrows in conservative Naples, Florida.

While one features a muscle-bound elderly Oriental man and another touts menu items “taste tested on Caucasians,” the edgy Charlie Chiang’s ads are geared to a younger audience as the seasoned restaurateurs bring their successful style to Southwest Florida.

Referring to their exclusive menu as “Chinese food with a twist,” Charlie and Christiana Chiang have more than 31 years of experience operating over 22 restaurants in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. areas, Maryland, and Chicago, IL.

Their latest addition opened, last month, next to the Doubletree Guest Suites on U.S. 41 in North Naples.

The Chiang’s designed this restaurant from the ground up with a traditional Asian feng-shui floor plan. A soothing bubbling water fountain inside and an elegant water view outside, enhances the overall dining experience. A large Terra Cotta Warrior statue replica at the door is a personal reminder of Christina’s Chinese roots. Born in Shanghai, Christiana grew up in Xi’an, where these amazing warrior statues were first unearthed in 1974.

The Chiangs met in Taiwan. Charlie earned his Masters in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois and was pursuing his Ph.D. Christiana, a graduate of the University of Ming Chaung, worked the front desk at the U.S. Embassy, where her interests and political connections easily transferred to business connections in establishing their first proprietorships.

The two married and launched a successful enterprise in Chinese cuisine in areas of the United States, where customers never experienced Chinese food before.

“We began our first commissary kitchen with GSI and Armark branding concepts in the fast food market,” she says of their first venture in Washington, DC.

From fast food to fine dining, the Chiangs have perfected their own style and are excited that daughter Jean and son-in-law Rock-Fu are joining them to assist in the operation of their newest restaurant. The staff is made up of many long-time employees including Chef Chao Chan, who has been with the Chiangs for 10 years, and Japanese sushi chef Jon Kerns, whose hand-made selections of rolled Makimo and Temaki and warm and cold saki, greet customers at the front of the house.

For those wishing to taste test, Chiang’s offers $1 sushi from 5-6 p.m., every Tuesday. This is a perfect way for first-timers to try the wide selection of sushi that Charlie Chiang’s offers.

The sushi bar is complimented by the wide selection of martinis and one-of-a-kind specialty drinks developed by Christina’s son-in-law Rock Fu and her manager Michael Hill. Hill’s personal favorites include the Key Lime Martini, Zen’s Green Tea-ni, the Sake-Toomi, which is served with blue cheese stuffed olives, and Charlie’s Mai-Tai, which has a splash of fruit flavors and rum. Other non-alcoholic drinks include soothing teas - mild jasmine, woolong tea, and a special flower blossom tea directly from Shanghai.

Charlie Chiang’s menu has a variety of selections from melt-in-your mouth crispy skinned shrimp, to delicately wrapped shaved cucumber and avocado rolls in tangy vinegar, spicy calamari for those who love the zing of pepper.

“Caucasians love cheese, crab legs with cheese and crab wonton,” says Christiana of the creative “twists” to the traditional Chinese fare.

Describing traditional wonton soup as “dull,” Christiana and her chef came up with “superior wonton soup” complete with homemade dumplings. Their Peking Duck is another specialty, hand-carved for customers at their table and served with traditional pancakes and tasty sauce.

Charlie Chiang’s packages all menu items for take-out. No MSG is used and the variety of healthful choices includes everything from protein-rich tofu and honey-tempura chicken to crispy sweet and sour eggplant and honey-jumbo shrimp salad.

Taste the “twist” in Chinese cuisine at this new restaurant, featured in this week’s Restaurant Rowe on page 24. Hours are 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week. For reservations or catering information, call 593-6688 or go online to www.charliechiangs.com.