The Iowa Pork Producers Association is ready to find out who consumers think has Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in 2017.
IPPA will launch the 15th annual contest on April 19 and give consumers the opportunity to nominate their favorite tenderloin restaurant, café or pub. Nominations can be submitted at www.iowapork.org or by using the form in the May issue of the Iowa Pork Producer magazine. The nomination process closes on June 7. Nominations are limited to one per household.
Any café, restaurant or tavern that serves hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloins is eligible to be nominated. An establishment must be open year-round to win, but seasonal restaurants can make the top five. The top five restaurants with the most nominations from each of the eight IPPA districts will be judged. The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee reserves the right to add additional restaurants to the judging process as it sees fit. Restaurant owners and operators are prohibited from nominating their own establishment.
“The tenderloin contest is always a lot of fun for us because Iowans love their tenderloins and our producers across the state love the buzz and the opportunity to share their passion,” said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA marketing and program director. “So many restaurants and small town dives serve tenderloins and we love hearing from Iowans who think their favorite may be the state’s best. We encourage tenderloin lovers everywhere to submit their nomination.”
New this year is a specially designed poster that can be downloaded by restaurants from the Iowa Pork website to print off and display to help encourage nominations from their customers.
One person who nominates the winning restaurant will be entered in a drawing to win $100. The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque to display in the establishment and statewide publicity.
A total of 385 restaurants, cafes and other establishments received 1,982 nominations in last year’s contest won by Nick’s in Des Moines. A total of 40 restaurants were judged on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience.
Iowa pork industry representatives will judge the tenderloins and IPPA will announce the winner during National Pork Month in October.
The contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that have pork as a regular menu feature in support of Iowa’s nation-leading pork industry.
Source: Iowa Pork Producers Association