Whitebait Steamed Egg Chaohu has a long history and is rich in products. It is a well-known "land of plenty" and its food culture has a long and splendid history.

The "Eight Bowls of Chaohu" are its outstanding representatives.

?Chaohu Eight Bowls? is not only a concentrated display of Chaohu cuisine, but also an important carrier of Chaohu food culture.

When did it originate?

Legends vary.

It is said that when the Eight Immortals crossed the sea, they disturbed the Dragon King of the East China Sea and caused a war. However, the Eight Immortals could not win for a long time and were hungry, so they retreated to Chaohu Lake to rest and find food to satisfy their hunger.

At this time, Cao Guojiu suddenly discovered that a family by the lake was having a family banquet, so he came to borrow eight bowls of vegetables for the Eight Immortals.

Since then, people have had the custom of sitting at the Eight Immortals Table and eating eight bowls of food.

The second story is that during the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo was an official in Xuzhou, and Mi Fu came to see him in the north. The two of them went south together to play. When they passed by the north bank of Chaohu Lake in Luzhou Prefecture, they were already hungry and hurriedly went into the village to look for food.

It happened that a farmer's family was having a family banquet. Dongpo explained his intention, and the host invited the two of them to the table.

The good wine and delicious food made Su Dongpo very popular in poetry, and he casually recited: "It is easy to lift eight bowls of chopsticks and put them into the stomach, but it is difficult to get rid of the craving for three years after the banquet."

Mi Fu also impromptuly wrote the words "Eight Big Bowls".

Since then, the eight bowls of Chaohu have become popular among the people.

The eight bowls of Chaohu braised vegetables are a combination dish that has formed a certain pattern.

For example, among the eight bowls, there must be a bowl of fish to show that there is more than enough every year. As for what kind of fish to use, it should be based on the season. White fish and mandarin fish are mostly used daily, and silver carp must be used during the Chinese New Year; there must be a bowl of dumplings to show that there is more.

Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan is usually made of meatballs, but lotus root balls, glutinous rice balls, shepherd's purse balls, etc. can also be used.

Others are nothing more than chicken, fish, meat and eggs.

Eight big bowls are a dish used in etiquette, festivals and family banquets. It has become a recipe for Chaohu people to receive guests, holiday family banquets, and important events such as weddings and funerals. It embodies rich folk culture.

As far as etiquette is concerned, just for dining, from taking a seat, serving food, setting out food, passing food, pouring wine, toasting, returning wine, until leaving the table after the banquet, there are rules such as respecting elders, respecting guests, and civilized behavior.

, rigorous yet warm, warm yet harmonious.

With the changes in people's living standards and dietary concepts brought about by the progress of the times, today's "Eight Bowls" have inherited and innovated, paying more attention to nutrition and health. Big fish and meat have gradually faded away, and light, fresh and tender dishes have become the main theme.