FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Pairing With Chinese Foods

Oct 1, 2005
2005 / October 2005

It’s a common question: Does wine complement Chinese foods? If so, which wines are best? A group of us gathered recently in New York City’s Chinatown to find the answers. Eileen Yin-Fei Lo, author of nine Chinese cookbooks, created the menu. The rest of us brought the bottles. And for four hours, we tasted our way through nine courses and 13 wines.

The first match was a snap. Four dumplings — pork siu mai, vegetarian dumplings, spring rolls and soup buns — paired easily with Moët & Chandon champagne. We agreed on the second match as well: barbecued pork and duck with Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2003, from Drouhin. And the best companion to spicy steamed oysters with ginger and scallions, we agreed, was the 2000 pinot gris from Oregon’s Eyrie Vineyards.

But by the fourth course — clams with black beans — we were divided. Some chose Dr. Konstantin Frank’s 2001 Dry Riesling Reserve, while others preferred the light sweetness of Frank’s semidry riesling. We did not try to find a wine to complement double-boiled hairy melon soup.

On to chicken crusted with garlic, ginger and scallion. Here, the semidry riesling won the most votes, but I preferred an elegant Oregon pinot noir — firm enough to tackle the spice, soft enough not to fight it. With the seventh course, a zingy orange-flavored beef, a fuller-bodied pinot noir — the 2001 from Syren, in New Zealand — won approval.

With striped bass steamed with ginger and scallion, we favored the Oregon pinot noir and pinot gris. Yet for the zesty final course, yuk see chau mein (shrimp, pork and vegetables atop fried noodles), it was back to Syren’s pinot noir.

What did we learn? Brut champagne is a great friend to many Chinese dishes. Reds no more tannic than pinot noir are a good bet with Chinese veal and beef dishes. Whites should have character and fruit, but not be overly sweet. What didn’t work for us were heavily oaked chardonnay and big reds, such as two bordeaux we tried and dismissed.

Still, we feel there are thousands of other potential combinations, so we’re ready and willing to try this experiment again.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

#globility

Insta Feed
eFlyer Reviews
Jun 7, 2023

Singer Palace Hotel Review

The idea of a boutique hotel in the center of Rome’s busiest crossroads may seem counterintuitive, but Singer Palace Hotel pulls off the impossible thanks to its minimalist exteriors, 30 gorgeous one-of-a-kind rooms and suites, smart-but-whimsical décor, simple-yet-elegant Roman cuisine and a stellar mixology-driven rooftop bar. It’s a delightful study in contrasts — a quiet, intimate and plush setting nestled within a maze containing many of Rome’s most noteworthy sites.

Put Yourself First in Arizona

Putting yourself first has never been easier.

eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023

Uber to Launch Private Chartered Boat Service in Mykonos

Uber app users can now book an Uber Boat in Mykonos this summer to enjoy even more of the Greek island’s beauty. Uber announced the new addition allows up to eight guests to cruise to popular destinations and sites around Mykonos.

eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023

Breeze Airways Rebrands First-Class Seating, Inaugurates 37 Nonstop Routes

Breeze Airways celebrates summer with the inauguration of 37 new and returning routes and the introduction of a new and elevated onboard experience. The airline also recently flew its inaugural and now longest flight from Rhode Island TF Green International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

Treasure Every Moment in The Islands of Tahiti

Welcome to The Islands of Tahiti, where every moment is a treasure waiting to be discovered. From the moment you arrive, you will be greeted with warm hospitality, time-honored traditions and an awe-inspiring landscape that will take your breath away.

eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023

Hawaiian Airlines Unveils 787 Dreamliners Cabin Design, Leihōkū Suites

Hawaiian Airlines officially gives the world a glimpse into the interior cabin details of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, bringing guests a new class of premium service. The Leihōkū Suites, meaning garland of stars, features 34 suites, enveloping guests in a peaceful and elegant space with fully lie-flat seating.

Fill Your Heart with Ireland

Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?

Daily
Jun 7, 2023

art’otel Brings Boutique, Art-Inspired Hotels to Zagreb, London and Rome

Contemporary lifestyle hotel brand art’otel expands throughout Europe with the launch of three new properties in Zagreb, London’s Hoxton and Rome, all slated to open between fall 2023 and early 2024. These three hotels join the brand’s existing boutique hotels in Berlin, Amsterdam, Cologne and another London property.