Wholesome homecooked dishes at Hop Sing

Established as a popular neighbourhood dining destination, Hop Sing Chinese Restaurant at Ponderosa Golf & Country Resort, continues in the tradition of serving festive meals with wholesome homecooked style dishes.

This Lo Hei tradition kicks off the Chinese New Year meal

Over the years, Hop Sing has been the restaurant of choice for family gatherings and corporate events including traditional pre-Chinese New Year annual company “closing” from work for the festive break, “Back-to-Work” gatherings in the new year and of course, Reunion Dinners.

I read, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – No Pork, No Lard – boldly emblazoned on the top of their festive promotional flyers that reminds diners that Hop Sing is ready to welcome a wider community because all ingredients used are sourced from Halal food suppliers.

Guests sending their wishes up
to the "Wishing Tree"

It’s good that Hop Sing is maintaining its reputation in serving wholesome homecooked style dishes and has two menus that cater to smaller groups of between four to six diners, this festive season.

“Last year, we implemented Chinese New Year menus without shark’s fins and this year, we aim to minimize food wastage,” said General Manager, Tan Kai Yang.

“Family units are smaller now and we wish to cater to such groups, without food wastage. Many restaurants traditionally cater for tables of 10 persons and when there are fewer persons, there will be much food wasted,” he added.

To usher in goodwill in the New Year, Ponderosa Golf & Country Club welcomes guests to start their meal by “Wishing Upon A Tree.”

Guests are invited to write out their wishes on Red cloths and send up their wishes to the "Wishing Tree", set up in the front lobby of the clubhouse.

At Hop Sing, the Chinese New Year set menus bode well for Blessings (RM388 nett), Fortune (RM588 nett) and Prosperity (RM998 nett).

Braised Fish Maw with Crab Meat soup

At an auspicious occasion like the Chinese New Year, the Chinese celebrate with sumptuous meals as they believe that it augurs well for greater prosperity and abundance in the coming year.

As businessmen in this part of the world started the tradition of eating Yee Sang or raw fish salad at the dawn of the New Year, the festive menus will kick off with a prosperity toss of Yee Sang.

Hop Sing serves two choices of Yee Sang in two sizes: Salmon RM49+ (small) RM98+ (large) and Pacific Clams RM58+ (small) RM116+ (large), available for ala carte orders.

HongKong style steamed Red Snapper

From the first dish of Salmon Yee Sang to the dessert item on the menu, the convivial mood is just like dining at home – the only difference is being served at the table – because the food quality and taste are as comforting as homecooked food.

Braised Fish Maw with Crab Meat, prepared in a rich broth, not only matches but compares favourably against the taste of Shark’s Fins soup, and certainly feels comfortable and much kinder to our threatened eco-system.

The serving of whole Roasted Chicken is so good that I’m ready to use my fingers to hold up the tender pieces to chew it to the bone!

Traditional Chinese New Year dish, Ho See Fatt Choy

There is indeed a skill to timing the steaming of a large fish and when the Hong Kong style steamed Red Snapper is served, its flesh is tender and succulent – perfectly timed.

The auspicious Lunar New Year vegetable dish, Ho See Fatt Choy is served with traditional ingredients of dried oysters (an acquired taste!) and Chinese mushrooms topped with Fatt Choy, a black fungus, arranged within a ring of broccoli florets.

Whole prawns are a traditional must-have in a Chinese New Year menu because its name in Cantonese, har sounds like laughter, “ha-ha” which rings in joy for the year ahead!

For a touch of nostalgia, Hop Sing serves a traditional dish of Har Lok or deep-fried whole prawns in soya sauce, just like how mother and grandmother would prepare it at home.

Individually wrapped portions of steamed Lotus Leaf Rice

Then steamed Lotus Leaf Rice is served in individual portions for each diner to unwrap their pouch of lotus leaf to discover tasty rice topped with a Chinese mushroom, minced chicken and a bright pop of Orange in the salted egg yolk.

This tasty, homecooked style meal at Hop Sing comes to a fitting end with a refreshing dessert of chilled Sea Coconut with Longan and Lemon.

Hop Sing, the Chinese Restaurant at Ponderosa Golf & Country Club, is on level one of the main clubhouse at No. 3 Jalan Ponderosa 1/1, Taman Ponderosa, 81100 Johor Baru, Johor.

For reservations, Tel: +607 – 354 999 Ext 255, +6017 – 766 2636, or email: enquiry@ponderosagolf.com.

For more details on Lunar New Year menus and resort promotions, visit website: ponderosagolf.com