Imitation Imperial Court Cuisine is a style of food with origins in the Imperial Palace. Based on foods served to the Emperor and his court, Imitation Imperial Court Cuisine try to imitate the imperial court cuisine.
仿膳宴是宫廷菜的一种类型。食物菜肴都源于皇帝和皇宫，仿膳宴主要模仿宫廷菜的一种菜式。

From the Imperial Cuisine to the Imitation Imperial Cuisine, as the head of a state, the emperor enjoys glory, splendor, wealth and rank. There is a very interesting question to be asked: what did the emperor eat every day? How did he eat?
从御膳到仿膳，古代的中国皇帝，身为一国之尊，享尽荣华富贵，一个十分有趣的问题是：在平日，皇帝吃的是什么呢？怎样吃呢？

The food prepared for the emperor is known as imperial cuisine. When the emperors of Qing Dynasty had a meal, there was always a table for him to dine alone except for during banquets. Each soup or dish was covered and only when the emperor began to eat, would the cover be removed. There were special department for each kind of food. Different kinds of tea and the milk tea stewed with milk, cream, sugar and tea were served by the Imperial Tea House; while the Pastry House made a variety of pastries. Dinner dishes were served by the Imperial Kitchen. There were two meals a day. In winter, breakfast was served at 6:00 am or 7:00 am; supper was served between 12:00 noon to 14:00 pm and the evening snack was served at about 6:00 pm. Dishes for preparing each meal were all listed and the list was submitted to the officials of each department. There were two officials from the Royal Household Bureau in full charge of the preparations for meals and the budget was more than thirty thousand silver pieces a year. This was mainly spent purchasing chickens, ducks, pigs, fish and vegetables etc. The rice, flour, sheep, milk, delicacies of every kind and dried vegetables etc. were either tributed by various regions or provided by the land estate belonging to the Royal Household Bureau. They were the materials used to cook imperial dishes which required no purchase. There were delicacies from the mountains, game and bird's nests, which were well renowned and precious. Cooking methods included Manchu and Han styles, as well as southern and the northern cooking methods. Imperial cuisine features the essences of famous dishes from all over the country. Color, fragrance and taste are all important elements of imperial dishes. Imperial dishes have an additional characteristic; in that each dish has an auspicious name or one that is peculiar. Examples of such dishes include “the jade phoenix returns”, “the Dragon Boat fish”, “the phoenix in the nest”, “evergreen with clear soup”, “bamboo fungus with Longjing tea” and “golden fried rolls” etc.
为皇帝提供的饮食，称为御膳。清朝皇帝进膳，除宴会以外，都是单独摆桌，菜、汤都各有碗盖，临用时才打开，制作饮食，各有专门机构，各种茶水和用牛奶，奶油、糖、茶熬制的奶茶，由御茶房供应，各样点心由饽饽房制作，正餐饭菜由御膳房供应，每天正餐两顿，冬季，上午六、七点左右进早膳，下午点半左右进晚膳，晚上六点左右进晚点。每一餐如何预备，都一一开列清单，呈报内各府大臣照办。膳房办膳之事，由内务府大臣二人总任其职，每年约需银三万数千两，主要是用于购买鸡、鸭、猪、鱼、蔬菜等，而米、面、羊只、牛奶、山珍海味、干菜等或由各地进贡，或由内务府所属庄田，特场交进，是无需购买的御膳所用的材料，包括山珍、野味、燕窝，极尽名贵，烹调方式，揉合满汉、南北皆备，可说是集中了全国的名菜精华。皇帝菜谱除了色、香、味都讲究之外，还有一个特色，就是每一道菜，都有一个如意吉祥或者独特的名字，例如玉凤还朝、龙舟鱼、凤凰趴窝、清汤万年青、龙井竹荪汤、金丝卷等等。

When the Chinese revolution took place and the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, imperial chefs left the palace and lived amongst the people. They opened restaurants and since their dishes were a kind of imitation of the imperial cuisine made in the former Qing Court, the dishes were called “imitation imperial cuisine”. Now, the “Imitation Imperial Cuisine Restaurant” is a famous restaurant which specializes in serving imperial dishes. It is located in the former imperial garden – Beihai Park in Beijing and has a history of more than fifty years. The “Imitation Imperial Cuisine Restaurant” was founded by Zhao Renqi, a chef of the Qing court. In 1925, he invited several chefs from the Qing court to open the “Imitation Imperial Cuisine Restaurant”, creating a public sensation as soon as business opened. The restaurant then became famous exclusively serving imperial dishes for customers. If visitors to Beijing visit “Imitation Imperial Cuisine Restaurant” these days, they will have the chance to experience the pleasures of past Chinese emperors.
随着中国革命的发生，清王朝垮了，皇宫里的御厨也流落到了民间，这些厨师开了饭馆，因为他们所做的菜式，是仿照原来清宫的御膳，因此称为“仿膳。”“仿膳饭庄”是目前专门制作皇家菜谱的著名食馆，这一间店子，坐落在以前皇帝的御花园——北京北海公园之内，已有五十几年的历史。“仿膳饭庄”最先的创办人，名叫赵仁齐，他是清宫的一位厨官，一九二五年，他邀请了几位清宫的御厨合作，开设了“仿膳”，一开业即轰动一时，成为著名的食馆，专门为食客提供宫廷菜。今天，到北京的游客，要来仿膳饭庄，便可以一试昔日中国帝王的享受。

Located in Beihai Park, Fangshan Restaurant is the most famous one offering the luxurious Imperial Court Cuisine. The restaurant was opened in 1925 by imperial chefs of the former Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and caused a great sensation at that time.
仿膳饭庄坐落于北海公园，是当下能提供最奢华的仿膳的饭店。改饭店始于前清1925年，在当时也引起了一阵轰动。