(Des Moines) The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is kicking off National Pork Month by revealing the five Iowa restaurants vying for this year’s top award.
According to the press release from the IPPA, this contest has been drawing the attention of connoisseurs near and far.
The Mainstreet Bar and Grill in Massena is one of the five finalists.
Qualifying pork tenderloins must be hand-breaded or battered. In addition, the Iowa restaurant serving them needs to be open year-round and offer the sandwich as a regular menu item. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries, and catering businesses are not eligible.
The other four finalists are Ludlow’s Steakhouse in Corydon, St. Olaf Tavern in Olaf, 5th Quarter Bar and Grille in Van Meter, and Lid’s Bar and Grill in Waukon.
IPPA will announce the first- and second-place winners later this month, dubbed #Porktober22, on social media channels to celebrate pig farmers and the great product they produce.
The annual quest to find the state’s juiciest, flavorful tenderloin sandwich starts with public input. Each spring, tenderloin fans have about two months to nominate their favorites. This year IPPA received 4,812 votes for 449 establishments.
Judging of the top 40 took place this summer. That list included the five restaurants with the most nominations in each of IPPA’s eight districts, which “helps ensure statewide representation.
IPPA members and industry affiliates anonymously visited those locations and scored the tenderloins based on pork taste, quality; physical characteristics; and presentation.
From there, IPPA’s restaurant and food service committee reviewed those 40 evaluations and selected the five contenders to advance to the next round. That same committee appointed a panel of three judges to travel to each of the finalists to determine the first- and second-place winners.
The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner to display, and statewide publicity to drive new business. The runner-up is awarded $250 and a plaque from IPPA.
First-place restaurants are not allowed to compete for five years afterward.
