Carroll Restaurant Wins Iowa Tenderloin Contest Among 464 Nominees

Wasted Grain Bar & Grill in Carroll won the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s 2026 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest, topping a field of 464 nominated restaurants and four finalists. Friends Hide-A-Way in Underwood finished as runner-up. Co-owner Cory Handlos said the sandwich was inspired by the tenderloins he ate at Darrell’s Place, the contest’s inaugural winner in 2003. Wasted Grain’s recipe uses a slightly larger cutlet that is tenderized once, helping balance pork, breading and bun in each bite.