Big bowl of Sanhuang chicken, big bowl of yellow croaker, big bowl of elbow, big bowl of meatballs, big bowl of rice flour meat, big bowl of braised pork, big bowl of pine meat and big bowl of ribs.

The eight bowls in old Beijing are Sanhuang chicken, yellow croaker, elbow, meatball, rice flour meat, braised pork, pine meat and ribs.

The so-called "eight bowls" originated from flowing water seats, traditional weddings, funerals, and even social days, all of which require people to gather for dinner. This is a folk celebration as important as singing a big drama in the village. Because there are not enough scenes, tables and chairs, we have to take the way of eating as we go. The contents of the mat are mainly rare things such as big fish and meat, which are required to be made quickly, available, sufficient in weight and basically the same in taste. Cooking is the main way, and it is served in a large bowl of coarse porcelain to show its sufficiency.

There are roughly two types of eight bowls in Beijing today, basic ones and high-end ones. The so-called basic model is based entirely on pork, and this kind of eight bowls has a nickname, called eight kinds of pigs. There are braised meat, meatballs and torn flesh, and the techniques are mainly steaming, stewing and stewing. In the high-end eight bowls, ingredients such as chicken and fish are added in addition to the basic pork, that is, "braised chicken with cherry balls and big carp with braised elbows". The so-called high-end models are much richer than the basic models.

There is a fairy tale about the origin of "Eight Bowls". According to legend, the Eight Immortals crossed the sea and angered the Dragon King. After a long battle, it was difficult to win, and the hunger was unbearable, so they separately searched for food to satisfy their hunger. Cao Guojiu went to a farm house alone, and the food was delicious, so he was salivating. I saw eight people around the square table, so I took away eight tempting dishes and left a message: My uncle borrowed eight bowls for the immortals, and I will repay them in the future. In the future, people changed the square table to the Eight Immortals table for auspicious celebrations, sitting eight guests and eating eight dishes, which has been passed down to this day.

among the people, the "eight bowls" in old Beijing, which originated from flowing water seats, are both common and affordable dishes. It is to make chicken, duck and fish taste good through eight kinds of careful cooking, and to put the delicious food on the table in traditional porcelain bowls. Traditional weddings, funerals and even social days require gathering people to have a meal, which is as important as singing a big drama. Because there are not enough scenes, tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks, we have to take the way of "eating as you come, leaving after eating".

"Eight bowls" are not necessarily eight bowls, but eight bowls of main dishes, excluding cold dishes and staple foods. Sometimes, fried vegetables are added in the name of side dishes, and most of the first guests are distinguished guests. Adding dishes is common, but "Eight" is "safe and sound", and people still maintain this name.

Although the "Eight Bowls" in old Beijing are popular among the people, they were once a delicacy in the imperial palace. According to legend, when Empress Dowager Cixi fled, she met people's families for a happy event and tasted the folk "eight bowls". After returning to Beijing, I asked the imperial kitchen to cook according to the folk practice and entertain the civil servants.