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Oxford restaurant wins 6th annual IPPA Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contestIowa The Iowa Pork Producers Association Restaurant and Foodservice Committee has announced the winner of IPPA's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest for 2008. Ben and Jeri Halperin, owners of the Augusta Restaurant in Oxford, will receive a check for $500, a plaque and statewide publicity. "All of our hard work is paying off," Jeri Halperin said. "We're so proud and happy to have the best breaded pork tenderloin in Iowa." The Halperins usually purchase whole pork loins from area suppliers and do their own processing. "We cut our own loins, pound them out like crazy, brine and bread them, and serve 'em up," said Jeri. "A lot of it has to do with the brining and preparation and the flavor of the breading, but we don't want to reveal all of our secrets," Jeri added. While the Halperins have each been in the restaurant business for nearly 20 years, they have owned the Augusta for just eight months. They were living and working in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina forced them out. They'd been living in Illinois since then, but they purchased the restaurant and moved to Iowa earlier this year. The restaurant serves from 50 to 80 breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches each week. Customers also will find a traditional New Orleans pork dish on the menu called grits and grialldes and the Halperins sometimes offer a stuffed pork loin. Jeri Halperin says they menu pork at the restaurant because of the pork producers and Iowa's status as the nation's top pork producing state. "This is where you get pork," Jeri stated. "If you're going to get and eat pork, it's going to be in Iowa. The best pigs are here and the food is just amazing here." Michael's Restaurant and Lounge in Des Moines placed second and will receive a plaque and $250 from IPPA. The Palmer House in Palmer, Flatheads Bar and Grill in St. Anthony and Hillcrest Golf and Supper Club in Graettinger received honorable mention and each will receive a plaque. MariAnne Satonski from Waukegon, Ill., nominated the Augusta Restaurant and will receive $100. A total of 486 nominations were submitted for this year's contest and 42 received the required two or more nominations and became finalists. Judging by committee members was completed last month. The committee judges the pork tenderloin sandwiches on taste, physical characteristics and appearance. All restaurants, cafes and taverns that serve breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches can be nominated for the award each year. Previous contest winners also are eligible, but are prohibited from winning two consecutive years. 11/3/08 Date: 10/28/08
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