About a month back, I finally started my journey on The Tenderloin Trail 2.0. If you don’t know what the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 is, here is some information on it from the Iowa Pork Producers website:

Iowans’ favorite pork dish is the breaded pork tenderloin. You can be rewarded for traveling the state and sampling these delicious sandwiches at 10 of 14 designated locations on the newest version of the Iowa Tenderloin Trail.

Inspired by the success of the original Iowa Tenderloin Trail, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has launched version “2.0,” an update of the 2017 trail.

“It was time to feature more areas of the state that weren’t represented in the first trail,” said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing/programs director. “There are many places to enjoy a delicious, handmade, breaded tenderloin in Iowa. After all, we are blessed with them being represented on almost every menu across the state.”

The tenderloin is an iconic food in Iowa—the nation’s No. 1 pork-producing state. The new trail includes restaurant recommendations from IPPA President Dennis Liljedahl, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and athletic directors at Iowa State University in Ames; Drake University in Des Moines; and the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

The trail also highlights restaurants’ signature drinks, side dishes, and desserts, and promotes nearby attractions as possible side visits. Sutter hopes consumers incorporate the trail into vacations, weekend getaways, or day trips.

“The Tenderloin Trail encourages Iowa tourism across the state, supports local restaurants and businesses and, of course, celebrates Iowa’s delicious pork and Iowans’ favorite way to eat it,” said Trish Cook, chairwoman of IPPA’s restaurant and foodservice committee. “I absolutely love a good tenderloin and knowing where to find one!”

Trail explorers will receive a stamp on their passport when they order a tenderloin at any of the restaurants on the new trail. If they earn 10 stamps within a two-year period, they will be awarded an “I Conquered the Iowa Tenderloin Trail 2.0” T-shirt from IPPA.

To participate in the Iowa Tenderloin Trail, diners need to download and print the official passport at www.iowapork.org/tenderloin-trail. Passports also can be picked up at the IPPA office in Clive, or at any of the restaurants along the trail.

The original trail was completed by more than 400 pork-loving connoisseurs, from June 2017 through July 1, 2021. Sutter estimates that more than 20,000 people completed some part of the trail. She noted that a Google map with the original trail locations was viewed more than 250,000 times.

The new Iowa Tenderloin Trail includes the following locations:

Birdies, Burgers & Brews at Hillcrest Golf & Country Club, Graettinger
The Buffalo Tavern, Burlington
Bump’s Restaurant at Finkbine Golf Course, Iowa City
Darrell’s Place, Hamlin
The Emerald Isle, Imogene
The Feed Mill Restaurant at Waspy’s Truck Stop, Audubon
Grid Iron Sports Bar and Grill, Webster City
Iowa Taproom, Des Moines
Jethro’s BBQ Drake, Des Moines
PrairieMoon On Main, Prairieburg
The Pub at the Pinicon, New Hampton
The Stumble Inn, Bradford
Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew, Luther
Wood Iron Grille, Oskaloosa

I’ve been meaning to get started on the Trail 2.0 for quite sometime, but you know, pandemic. But back in January I finally hit the place that is closest to my homestead. Whatcha Smokin? BBQ in Luther. I’m not going to review the tenderloin because it has been covered on a previous “An Artist’s Notebook” entry. It is sufficient to say that it is a great tenderloin.

Here are some pictures from my trip there after church with Teresa, Logan, and Dahlia.

I don’t have any current plans to hit a tenderloin joint, but ideally, I should hit one a month, in order to get that shirt! I’ll probably at least try to get up to the Webster City one this month.

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is BELIEVE.

BELIEVE! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!
I’m going to be 100% transparent on this theme. It is 100% inspired by TED LASSO. Let’s face it, if you aren’t watching TED LASSO, then you are watching television wrong! You better do something about it. Like start watching TED LASSO!

All of that being said, what is a BELIEVE image. While on the surface, this seems like a very abstract, conceptual streak killing theme, it is really quite simple. All you have to do is take a picture of something you BELIEVE in. BELIEVE in Jesus? Take a picture that reflects your Christian faith. Or whatever religion you practice. BELIEVE in your favorite sports team. Take a picture that reflects your rooting interests. BELIEVE that education is the foundation of a successful life, take a picture of that. BELIEVE in your children? BELIEVE in gravity? BELIEVE the world is flat? If you think about it, you BELIEVE in a lot of things.

Happy photo harvesting!