For the first time, a restaurant in southwest Iowa has won the Iowa Pork Producers Association Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest. Three C’s Diner of Corning took home the 2018 top award with their ‘Award Winning Hand-Breaded Tenderloin,’ so named as it took home 2nd place in 2015.
The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee is making the official presentation at the restaurant on today's Big Show. The Three C’s Diner will receive a check for $500, a plaque and a large banner to display.
Owners Steve and Missy Sanson were excited to win the award – a goal they’ve had since opening the diner in January 2012. “A great breaded tenderloin was one of the things we wanted to be known for,” Steve said as the couple recounted how they set their goals for the diner.
They came close once before, when they received 2nd place in the 2015 contest. “Our only option was to succeed,” Missy said. “We never thought about failure.”
The tenderloins are cut at the restaurant each day. They are approximately 2-1/2 to 3-inches thick before they go through the tenderizer. They are egg-dipped and hand-breaded in a mixture of flour and “secret spices” before being fried and served.
Typically, the Three C’s Diner in this town of nearly 1,500 people goes through 120 pounds of tenderloin a week. And that’s not the only pork product on the menu. Every weekend they serve pulled pork, baby back ribs and ham balls, along with the daily offerings of ground pork burgers, grilled tenderloin, tenderloin wraps, and any number of sandwiches that feature bacon. On top of that, you can add sausage and bacon served on their weekend breakfast menu.
IPPA judges selected Watcha Smokin’ BBQ + Brew of Luther as the runner up in this year's contest. IPPA will present that restaurant with $250 and a plaque. Rounding out the top five finalists (in no order) are Landmark Bistro, Grundy Center; Nine & Dine Restaurand, Eagle Grove; and Stout’s Irish Pub & Grill, Clinton. These restaurants will receive a Top Five Plaque to display in their restaurant.
IPPA received 1,594 nominations in this year’s contest. The committee judged 43 establishments this summer based on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience.
Three C’s Diner, located at 309 9th Street in Corning, is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed Mondays.
The tenderloin contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that have pork as a regular menu feature in support of Iowa’s nation-leading pork industry. The winner is announced in October to celebrate the state's dedicated pig farmers, local restaurants and their hard-working teams and a famous Midwest favorite-the pork tenderloin sandwich.
Grid Iron Grill of Webster City won the 2017 contest.