THE IOWA PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION SAYS THE WASTED GRAIN RESTAURANT IN CARROLL SERVES IOWA’S BEST BREADED PORK TENDERLOIN THIS YEAR.
THE DINER ROSE TO THE TOP OF 464 RESTAURANTS NOMINATED BY IOWANS THIS SPRING, THEN BEAT FOUR OTHER FINALISTS TO WIN THE 2026 BEST BREADED PORK TENDERLOIN CONTEST.
WASTED GRAIN RECEIVES $500, A PLAQUE, AND AN OUTDOOR BANNER.
CO-OWNER CORY HANDLOS SAYS THE KEY TO THE RECIPE WAS SIMPLE: TENDERIZE THE PORK ONCE INSTEAD OF TWICE AND ADD A COUPLE OF EXTRA OUNCES OF MEAT.
TENDERIZING TWICE MADE THE CUTLET WIDE AND THIN, SO A BITE WAS MOSTLY BUN AND BREADING.
WASTED GRAIN’S VERSION IS STILL BIG ENOUGH TO HANG OFF THE BUN, BUT EACH BITE BALANCES BUN, BREADING, AND PORK.
EACH TENDERLOIN IS HAND-BREADED IN THE RESTAURANT’S SMALL KITCHEN USING A RECIPE THE TEAM KEEPS UNDER WRAPS.
HANDLOS AND HIS WIFE, MISSY, OPENED WASTED GRAIN ON MOTHER’S DAY OF 2023.
