This is a guest blog from Kara Baber of Visit Hamilton County.
If there are three things Hoosiers love, it’s basketball, beer and the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. The latter is a hot topic this time of year, as Hamilton County’s annual Tenderloin Tuesdays promotion puts local restaurants in the lunch plans of those craving the sandwich during the month of July.
The tenderloin is a topic of heated debate, however, in two categories: where is the best place to order and what is the best way to tackle the laughably enormous sandwich?
If you have yet to declare a favorite restaurant, we have some suggestions. While all of the restaurants on the Tenderloin Trail are fabulous, two Hamilton County restaurants recently made USA TODAY's list of 10 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloins in Indiana: Nickel Plate Bar and Grill and C.R. Heroes Family Pub, both in Fishers. Dooley O’Tooles in Carmel and Courtney’s Kitchen in Noblesville are top sellers during Tenderloin Tuesdays every year. Newcomer Grand Junction Brewing Company in Westfield is also a favorite for many local tenderloin aficionados.
In terms of how to tackle a tenderloin, we conducted some informal research a few years ago, tweeting the open-ended question, how do YOU eat your tenderloin?
The categories that emerged included:
- The Edgers – those who prefer to eat the part of the tenderloin that hangs off the side of the bun first
- The Double Stackers – those who cut or fold the tenderloin in half on the bun in order to get double the meat in each bite
- The Go-getters – those who just go for it, no premeditation needed!
In the spirit of democracy, we tallied the votes of the people who shared:
- 35% of respondents double stack their tenderloin
- 29% just go for it
- 18% eat around the edges first
- 11% say it depends
In anticipation of Tenderloin Tuesdays through July 26, we want to hear from you. Where is your favorite place to order a tenderloin? Are there any methods not represented? Tag @VisitHamiltonCo on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram along with #TenderloinTuesday and give us your feedback!