March 18, 2024

IPPA launches 2014 ‘Best Breaded Tenderloin Contest’

For the past 12 years, the Iowa Pork Producers Association has been holding a contest that has settled the debate that most Iowa “foodies” have found themselves taking part in at one point or another: who has the best breaded tenderloin in the state?

In 2009, that honor went to Jasper County’s own Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City.

You can submit nominations to IPPA starting Thursday May 1 and IPPA has a few rules to ensure the nominee is eligible to win:

“Any café, restaurant or tavern that serves hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloins is eligible to be nominated. Restaurants must receive three nominations to enter the first round of judging. Restaurant owners and operators are prohibited from nominating their own establishment.”

Only one nomination may be sent per household and they are due on June 9. Applications can be found online at www.iowapork.org.

Besides bragging rights, the winner of this award receives $500, a bronze plaque and banner for display in his or her establishment. Winning this award also gives any restaurant instant name recognition and a tremendous boost in sales.

When Goldie’s won in 2009, its sales of tenderloins grew by more than 500 percent according to Jenna Strum, who was a Golidie’s waitress and made the statement in a 2009 interview with the Daily News.

“Before this, we always had very faithful locals who came in every day and every afternoon for coffee time, and since the TV spot with Steve Karlin (KCCI) and a story in the paper and the award, business has been more than steady,” Strum said.

IPAA realizes how popular this contest has gotten and how much it has grown in the last decade and in a release, IPPA Marketing and Programs Director Kelsey Sutter explained some new changes.

“We have made some much needed changes to our judging process this year and we are challenging ourselves to find the perfect tenderloin,” Sutter said. “This contest is really a celebration of one of Iowa’s best kept secrets and we always look forward to showcasing an Iowa restaurant!”

The 2014 winner will be announced in October, which is also officially Pork Month, by IPPA.