Need Extensive General Info

[TheEngineer]

I'm gonna throw my $0.02 at this. I agree that not having riesling a Gwerztraiminer on the menu is weak as it does work very well for this VERY Americanized Chinese menu. And there are some very experienced tasters on this board...of which I am not one of so please take this with a LARGE grain of salt.

The dishes appears to be served family style versus one dish at a time so having a wine that works with it all will be difficult, especially when you don't have a riesling or a Gwerzt.

Just step back and go back to basics though Duck is duck and fish is fish. If the sauces are not hugely favorful, what use to work before in standard western food pairing will work now. The difficult will be that the steamed fish (light) will come out with a hot and spicy something or other.

In a more formal Chinese dinner (which you may also have), there is a progression from lighter dishes to heavier dishes so that there is an opportunity for wines to be matched to sections of the dinner courses (upwards of 12-14 courses). In a family style setting I've seen both a bottle of white and red at the table at the same time and the dinners will adjust the selection of food themselves.

Also Chinese friends of mine find that caramelized (charred) dishes that have soya sauce in it work well with Cabs. Pinot may works well with stir fried seafood which often is served with a light red vinegar.

Have fun!