Heard of the "Man3 Han4 Quan2 Xi1"?
I first came across the term in a Hong Kong movie starring Kenny B.
He was a star chef who put his profession before his wife, and when
his wife gave birth to their first child, he decided to stay on to
compete in a culinary competition. He won the competition but by
the time he arrived at the hospital, his wife had already left him
and taken the baby with her. He then went on a downward spiral,
abandoning his career, becoming an alcoholic.
Can't remember the title of the movie. Can anyone help here?
OK, the "Man Han Quan Xi" refers to a really grand and elaborate
meal cooked for royalty in Manchurian China. It is a "Feast of
Complete Manchu-Han Courses", originating in the Qing
Dynasty.
This imperial feast of a whopping 134 courses of hot dishes, 48
courses of cold dishes, and sweets and fruits, which are used in 6
separate banquets. It requests food materials that are rare and
best of all, including, for instance, the 8 Mountainous Treasures,
the 8 Land Treasures, and the 8 Sea Treasures.
The Man Han Quan Xi represents the epitome of Chinese cuisine as
only the best chefs are able to whip up such a feast. A lot of
skill and expertise is involved as they have to cook a large number
of dishes with exotic, rare, and/or expensive ingredients.
The 8 Mountainous Treasures consist of bear paws, hedgehog hydnum,
Handakan, flying dragons, tiger spleens, elks, ginseng, and
Juecai.
The 8 Land Treasures consist of Hashimuo, camel humps, Koumo
mushrooms, Fengzhaomo mushrooms, Yumizhen corn, Shafengji chickens,
and ptarmigans.
The 8 Sea Treasures consist of shake fin, cishen, fresh oysters,
purple abalone, snake-headed fish eggs, balloons of slated cod
croakers, and fish skin.
Right now, to enjoy such a feast, you can pay the Shenyang New
World Hotel,Yushanjiulou Restaurant a visit. However, due to the
ingredients used, expect to pay an arm and a leg to partake in the
feast! 
I also presume that one would
probably need to give advanced notice so that the ingredients can
be collected.
Now, isn't this pretty interesting? 
To read more, please visit the following websites :
http://www.compumag2005.com/tourism.htm
http://edu.sina.com.cn/en/2003-05-22/12230.html
