仙居傳統菜(cai)譜(pu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“八(ba)(ba)大(da)碗”,寓(yu)意(yi)吉(ji)祥(xiang)(xiang),“八(ba)(ba)”在中(zhong)國(guo)文化中(zhong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)吉(ji)祥(xiang)(xiang)之數。中(zhong)國(guo)的古典文化中(zhong)以陰陽、五行、八(ba)(ba)卦為(wei)(wei)(wei)綱,從而在后天八(ba)(ba)卦中(zhong)延生(sheng)出第八(ba)(ba)卦為(wei)(wei)(wei)坤(≡≡),坤為(wei)(wei)(wei)地、為(wei)(wei)(wei)母、為(wei)(wei)(wei)牛、為(wei)(wei)(wei)眾多,又加上“八(ba)(ba)”是十(shi)以內(nei)偶數中(zhong)的最大(da)數,所以寓(yu)意(yi)出眾多的吉(ji)祥(xiang)(xiang)之說(shuo)。道教文化源遠(yuan)流長,塑造(zao)出具有多方(fang)代表的“八(ba)(ba)仙”,吃飯的桌稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)“八(ba)(ba)仙桌”,正方(fang)形(xing),邊長三尺(chi)(chi)六(魯班尺(chi)(chi))即(ji)1公(gong)尺(chi)(chi),坐的四(si)(si)條凳長四(si)(si)尺(chi)(chi)(魯班尺(chi)(chi))稱四(si)(si)尺(chi)(chi)凳,每方(fang)坐二(er)人,共座八(ba)(ba)人,上一席菜(cai)“八(ba)(ba)大(da)碗”,上十(shi)六至二(er)十(shi)四(si)(si)個菜(cai),民間統稱“八(ba)(ba)大(da)八(ba)(ba)細(xi)”。
傳(chuan)說古時(shi)八(ba)(ba)仙(xian)過海(hai)大戰龍(long)王(wang)之后,在回神仙(xian)居的(de)(de)路上(shang)(shang)(shang),只見鄰村皤灘鼓樂喧天、張燈結彩,遂降(jiang)祥云去湊熱鬧,原來是村中首(shou)富吳員(yuan)外嫁女,八(ba)(ba)仙(xian)當時(shi)興起,一人做了一道好菜(cai)(即采荷蓮子、湘子海(hai)參、鐘離翻碗(wan)肉、國舅(jiu)泡鲞、洞賓大魚、鐵拐敲肉、仙(xian)姑(gu)肉皮泡、國老豆腐)以示慶(qing)賀。不久,仙(xian)居百(bai)姓都把(ba)吃(chi)飯用的(de)(de)四方桌(zhuo)改稱為(wei)八(ba)(ba)仙(xian)桌(zhuo),婚宴(yan)上(shang)(shang)(shang)都用上(shang)(shang)(shang)八(ba)(ba)仙(xian)的(de)(de)八(ba)(ba)樣拿手菜(cai),并尊(zun)稱為(wei)八(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)。八(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)具體(ti)名稱改為(wei)以上(shang)(shang)(shang)八(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)名稱。