Chinese food and wines...

[Capocheny]

What are you folks drinking with Cantonese Chinese food these days?

There's meat and seafood with cold appetizers... nothing spicy.

Looking for reds and whites...

Thanks in advance for any recommendations... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Cheers

[Bucko]

No-brainer for us -- we drink off-dry Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Works well with Chinese and Thai.

[TheEngineer]

Cap,

Bucko's right, absolutely Riesling...even the Chinese do this...but since Vanq's actually get real chinese food where the flavors are more subtle or can be rather complex, here are some thoughts that I have not had a chance to try with Chinese are.

Duck (roasted or earthen pots...or where it is the main flavor), I would try a Burgundy, or whatever else works with Duck.

Beef (iron plates, black pepper, etc), a simple straight forward red like a Grenache?

Steamed items like steam fish, tofu, or pork, where the flavors are really subtle or soft, Sauvignon blanc? or a Viognie?

Vegetables, since there are a lot, but the thicker flavor ones like "broccolini (sp?)", where there is sometimes a hint of bitterness, Dry Riesling or else the sugar hides the bitterness.

Since this only my loose cannon thoughts?, would someone who knows quite a bit more like to jump in?

BTW, where are you going for dinner, have you tried Kirin? the place in Metrotown (on 12th by the city hall 3rd floor)...quite good but just missing the mark of the best of Toronto.

[Capocheny]

Greetings Bucko, E,

Thanks for the suggestions... traditionally, I would usually drink beer with Northern style (spicy) Chinese food.

And, come to think of it... beer with Cantonese Chinese food too! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

We've been invited to a 50th birthday party at a restaurant on Granville Street (but I can't recall the name) and the host asked what I would recommend for wines. I don't think they're going to have duck on the menu...

I'll take your advice and suggest a Riesling and a pinot... I don't know what to recommend in the way of a "under CDN$25" wine though. Perhaps, a Schloss Reichartshausen Riesling Kabinett - Balthasar 1999? Or, Riesling Qba - M.F. Richter Estate 2003? Cambria Estate 2000 Pinot? Perhaps, a Kim Crawford Marlborough 2003 Pinot? Have either of you tried these wines?

How about a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc? Or, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc?

Any other suggestions?

E,

Yes, Kirin is quite good but, IMHO, there's another place on Hornby Street called "Beijing Restaurant" that's a bit better. Funny thing is... my favorite Chinese food restaurant is a little place out in White Rock called KK's Kitchen. It's connected to an ice cream parlor... quite the combination! But, their food is top notch. The owners moved out from Calgary back a few years ago. I use to place a food order "just" before heading out to the airport. The looks from the people as I walked by them was pretty funny! The smells permeated the cabin and people were always threatening to show up for dinner! White Rock is about 45 minutes (on a good day) from where we live and I drive out to do a pick up every so often. Needless to say... I quite enjoy their food!

It sounds like you get into Vancouver quite often... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] Have you tried Diva@The Met on Howe Street? Or, Cin Cin on Robson? Or, Villa del Lupa on Helmecken Street?

It's unfortunate that Michael Noble is no longer at Diva... he's a great chef! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/frown.gif[/img] He re-located to Calgary where he was a partner in a beautiful restaurant called, "Catch." If you get the chance to visit Catch... it was fabulous (or, at least when Michael was there... he put together a Chef's Table that included all the wines... delicious! Oh, did I mention it was delicious? [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img])

So many wines and so little time! And, there's nothing better than great friends, great food, and FABULOUS wines! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks again for the recommendations... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Cheers

[TheEngineer]

I've got an office in Vancouver that I visit when I can. A lot of my clients are out that way. I use to go rather often and Cin Cin use to be the place that I would take many of them.

Visit much less nowadays and really should go out there once in the near future. Mostly down in the SF area now and East Coast....still should show up in the office once in a while. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Capocheny]

E,

Give Diva@The Met a try one of these days... the food is pretty decent. (And, since it's a small boutique hotel, the ambience is relaxing and the offer great service as well.)

We gave Villa del Lupo a try a few weeks back (in the evening) and the food wasn't typical Italian. It was a "modified" Italian and I really enjoyed it.

San Fran... it's a great city and I last visited in 1999. But, we're attending a convention (Leica Historical Society) in late October and have a few tastings teed up with some wineries in the Napa Valley. Am really looking forward to the trip... and I get to pick up my Harlan's as well! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] A friend of mine use to know a lot of the big players down there so he's going to try and set up a few "different" tastings! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

We also had dinner at Rubicon and I ended up buying a bottle of Henri Jayer from them.... it was truly an experience and I can't wait to get back there. Their wine list was incredible but then... the Sommelier is Larry Stone. What a nice man... sure knows his stuff!

Cheers

[wondersofwine]

When I go to a Chinese restaurant I usually ordered black tea and plum "wine." One of the few instances where I enjoy a "wine" not from grapes. At home I am likely to have Gewurztraminer or Riesling with Chinese food.