If there was a tenderloin competition, Illinois threw down the gauntlet with this creation.

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Hoosiers And Their Tenderloins

No one quite does the pork tenderloin sandwich like Indiana does. Just about any local joint you walk into will have this iconic sandwich on the menu. Few things are more "Hoosier" than a gigantic pork tenderloin sandwich.

The sandwich is known throughout the state because of its popularity, but also because the pork tenderloin itself is often so big that it makes the sandwich buns look comically small.

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I love how this article from Eater describes a pork tenderloin sandwich like the people of Indiana. It's funny, but it also makes sense!

The pork tenderloin sandwich is central to the state’s cultural identity. Some say it’s exactly like the people in Indiana: simple, not too showy, sometimes a little too big for its britches. Above all, it’s familiar and reliable — and to a displaced Hoosier (as I once was), it’s home.

There's a trail dedicated to tenderloins and even a place that serves up a 7-pound tenderloin challenge! However, Illinois just raised the bar with this creation: the tenderloin pizza!

Via Jordan Chamberlain

Hold the Buns

I was scrolling Facebook and found a post in a pork tenderloin group from Jordan Chamberlain, who shared this fantastic find. Jordan said the pork tenderloin pizza came from Country Saloon in East Peoria, Illinois. Just look at this thing!

Via Jordan Chamberlain

When looking at Country Saloon's website the menu shows three different versions of the pork tenderloin pizza:

Original Pizza - Pork tenderloin covered in marinara, green peppers, onions, and cheese (all of the classic pizza toppings).
Sweet and Spicy- Pork tenderloin covered in sweet chili, pineapple, and cheese
Sweet and Tangy- Pork tenderloin covered in honey mustard, onion, and cheese

via Jordan Chamberlain

Jordan rated the pizza a 9.5/10, so I'd call that a ringing endorsement!

I went out on a limb tonight. I’m a Mayo and lettuce tenderloin guy, and a pepperoni or supreme pizza guy, but tonight I went for the sweet heat tenderloin pizza. It has a sweet chili sauce, pineapple, and mozzarella cheese on top of their pretty exceptional tenderloin. I added bacon because, bacon. A pleasantly fulfilling taste, as I expected, and very satisfying. The reason for my 9.5 score is because there was one slice of tenderloin with no pineapple on it. Having never had pineapple on any sort of pizza before, I was disappointed that this slice was missing the golden fruit.

Will buy again.

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You can see Country Saloon's website and full menu here. I don't know why it's taken so long for someone to come up with turning a giant tenderloin into a pizza, but I'm sure glad someone decided to do it! Your move, Indiana!