ISF 2026 Food: Trip 3

Recently the Iowa Pork Producers Association released their 5 Finalists for Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin.

Here are the Finalists:

• Friends Hide-A-Way
  • Underwood, Iowa
  • 138 miles away
  • 2 hours and 12 minutes from my front door
  • Estimated Gas Cost for trip: $47.47
• Landmark Grill & Grind
  • Williamsburg
  • 125 miles away
  • 1 hour and 51 minutes from my front door
  • Estimated Gas Cost for trip: $43.00
• Sasquatch Jacks Hideaway Barroom & Grill
  • Waverly
  • 115 miles away
  • 1 hour and 59 minutes from my front door
  • Estimated Gas Cost for trip: $39.56
• Tin Roost
  • North Liberty
  • 131 miles away
  • 2 hours and 2 minutes from my front door
  • Estimated Gas Cost for trip: $45.06
• Wasted Grain
  • Carroll
  • 53 miles away
  • 57 minutes from my front door
  • Estimated Gas Cost for trip: $18.23

Unfortunately none of them are super close to me and thanks to the warmongering imbeciles running our country and Iowa, it will cost a pretty penny to even get to any of these place. But I will try to get to at least the Carroll one before they announce the winner. Then take out a small loan and road trip to the winner, if it isn’t one I get to before then.

I would still like to try all the past winners that are still open. That list includes: Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon, Three C’s Diner in Corning, The Belmond Drive-In in Belmond, and Larsen’s Pub in Elk Horn. Amazingly that is the entire list of winners (that are still in business) that I haven’t tried. Hopefully someday adults will get put back in charge of our country and life will become affordable again.

The 2026 champion should be announced in the next couple of weeks. So keep an ear out for the big announcement.

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My final trip to the Iowa State Fair was also the final day of the Fair. A day I’ve gone the last few years to pick up my pictures from the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. This time I went with Carla and Nader. I got there later than I would normally get there because it was the 160th Anniversary Celebration for the Boone First United Methodist Church, so church lasted a bit longer and then it was followed by something of a potluck.

That meant that I left church later than normal with lunch already in my belly. All this lead to me not eating that much at the Fair on my final day.

Here are the cell phone pictures from my last day at the Fair:

I’m not much of a fan of Star Wars, but I am a fan of this artwork.

This one is okay too, but my love is greater for the first one.

Meal 1: Garlic Dill Pickle Cheese Curds!

Fried cheesy goodness! Fried Garlic Dill Pickle cheesy goodness!

I think I missed my window to buy this sweet shirt!

Meal 2: Bison Cheesesteak Sliders

I had good things about this place.

But even at State Fair prices, $20 for this felt like a ripoff.

And they weren’t all that great either.

American cheese doesn’t belong on a Philly, no matter the meat.

I actually didn’t have several fair foods this year. I didn’t get the grinder that I enjoyed last year because the line was too long. Next year I will wait in line. I also didn’t get the cookies or the Nitro ice cream. I’m just realizing what a failure my Iowa State Fair experience was this year! Dang!

But even a failed trip to the Iowa State Fair is a great day!