By Becki Coffy

Tired of turkey?  Can’t look another ham in the face?  Then treat yourself to something different and stop by the China Gourmet restaurant in Deerfield Beach.  They feature an almost limitless menu that includes all the traditional items and other dishes with a slightly different twist.

Since I dine there often, I decided to break out of my shell and order something new.

The restaurant now features “Kevin’s Sushi bar.” My guest, Tim, really enjoys sushi.  I, on the other hand, am a little less adventurous. We asked Kevin to surprise us and select something for us to sample. Beautifully prepared and plated, he brought us the California roll (for me, I’m sure) which was avocado and crab and was wonderful. Tim was served ‘Valerie’s roll,’ which consisted of spicy tuna, avocado topped with spicy crab and scallions with crunchy tempura flakes and red caviar roe sprinkled on top. It was served with wasabi and ginger and was fresh and delicate. I believe Kevin may have made a sushi lover out of me after all!

Next, my dinner guest and I ordered the New York style pork. A large plateful of boneless pork cooked in a light, slightly sweet sauce that came to the table tender and fork ready. The portion was large enough to share and we ate every bite.  Forgoing the traditional honey garlic chicken or chow mein, I tried the Singapore noodles, a dish of thin noodles in a mild curry sauce smothered with shrimp, scallions, pork and red pepper. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the mild curry sauce did not overpower the flavors of the shrimp and vegetables.

Our lovely waitress, Scar-lett, suggested we try the General Tao chicken. The velvety brown sauce that covered the crispy fried chicken was just a little sweet with a hint of heat. This was served with a generous portion of steamed broccoli – a great accompaniment to the chicken.  This menu item is usually prepared with whole dried chili peppers and served hot in both temperature and flavor, but China Gourmet will adjust the seasonings to your specific taste.

The restaurant offers 18 appetizer choices. The egg roll is my personal favorite but the Crab Rangoon is a close second.  Lo Mein with beef, pork, chicken and shrimp; Cantonese specialties such as lemon chicken, seafood gourmet, moo shu pork and cashew shrimp are all available.

With 11 soups from which to choose I can never make up my mind. Sweet and sour dishes, chow mein, chop suey and egg foo young help to round out the menu.

For those who like it hot, order from the Szechuan specialties.  Kung Pao chicken, Hunan beef or scallops and sizzling beef are just a few of the choices.  Their combination platters are one of the best deals in town.  Ranging from $7.75 to $9.25, there are 24 selections that also include egg roll and pork fried rice.

My family generally orders the honey garlic chicken and the green pepper steak … Both are highly recommended.  If you want lighter fare, there are many tofu and vegetable dishes, including sautéed string beans (great!) and steamed vegetables.

China Gourmet, a family run business, has been serving Deerfield Beach for the past 29 years.  Kevin’s sushi bar has been open for the past year and is a wonderful addition to the menu. They are located at 1098 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Delivery is available. Until we eat again…

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Duffy Dillon gives his Broward County Sports Hall of Fame induction speech. Photos by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Two local Pompano men never thought they would be named in the same sentence of the likes of Dan Marino, Coach Don Shula, H. Wayne Huizenga, Dara Torres, Chris Evert and others, but there they were.

Duffy Dillon, who currently lives in Pompano Beach, and Barry Krauss, who starred at Pompano Beach High School, were recently named to the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame. The duo were among six 2011 inductees at the
annual gala at Broward County Convention Center. The Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Sports Development office presented the event.

They were joined by Wendy Bruce Martin (gymnastics), Joe Castiglione (athletic administration), Gene Monahan (sports medicine) and Louis Oliver (football), who are now part of the Hall of Fame, which broke the century mark of inductees with this year’s event.

“I was in shock,” said Dillon, 46, who heads up the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatics Swim program. “It was a little bit of a concern of mine with me being young in my coaching career. These types of awards are typically for end-of-career achievements, especially with swim coaches Michael (Lohberg) and Jack (Nelson) in the Hall of Fame …They assured me it was from an athletic perspective and not the coaching. I was fortunate to have the God-given talent, and for me, this is a lifelong passion.”

Dillon, a 1983 Ft. Lauderdale High School graduate, was a two-time NCAA champion and All-American at the University of Florida. He has been the director and head coach of the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatic Swim Club since 2004.

“It’s unbelievable,” Dillon said. “When you consider all of the great athletes and coaches to come out of Broward County. It’s pretty awe inspiring and you feel pretty special.”

Krauss, 54, a 1975 Pompano Beach High School graduate, played football for the University of Alabama, where the All-American spent 13 years playing in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins.

Krauss looked around at the table and thanked his family for being there, including his brother Eric, whom he said “was the better linebacker of the family.”

“This has to be one of the most wonderful days of our lives,” said Krauss, who choked back tears throughout his speech. He is currently a broadcaster and motivational speaker based in Carmel, Indiana.

“We have come a long way and our family is together for the first time in years. This is awesome,” added Krauss, who was introduced by his father, Rob. “This is about dreams. Most times, we give up on our dreams … When I was growing up, it was always my dream to play for the Miami Dolphins. When I finally suited up for them and I was standing on the sideline, I cried.”

Barry Krauss speaks during his induction.