For catering chefs, each banquet was like a competition of culinary skill. The host would often invite several chefs to compete with each other in putting together a menu from the same ingredients. Each would come up with different dishes to serve, with the host and well-known local guests judging their performances and giving out prizes.
對於辦桌師傅，每一場辦桌，都猶如一次廚藝大賽，主人往往同時邀請數位總舖師同來「拚桌」，以相同的材料、各自的巧思上菜，最後由主人及地方名望人士評判出勝負，給予金牌。