Okay, to quote Kenny Loggins, and boy do I hate to quote Kenny Loggins, but: This is it! The 20th tenderloin in 20 weeks. I can’t believe it’s just about over!
A few weeks ago, just before Christmas, when my Australian friends, Claire and Mick came to town, we had a great Saturday night dinner at Jim’s Steakhouse. While we were there we met Chef Todd and he gave me this cryptic note:
He said that the best tenderloin in the world is at Pottsie’s Roadhouse in Ipava, Illinois. So I thought that for the very last episode in our tenderloin tour, we’d take a little road trip to Ipava, a town that I’ve never been to and sample the tenderloin there that's Chef Todd approved. To the MBIP mobile!
I’m glad it’s not snowing outside and it’s warmer, it’s around 38 degrees on this Sunday afternoon, but that sun is really shining bright! I need to look into getting some prescription sunglasses. Looks like this is going to be an eye-squinting trip.
Through the miracle of the internet you’re spared a 93 minute drive with sunlight literally blinding me the whole way! This tenderloin better be as good as Chef Todd says it is, I’m not in a very good mood right now!
Here we are at Pottsie’s Roadhouse, it looks like a cool place. The shadow knows!
There’s Budweiser inside and it’s open, my mood is starting to get better already!
Let’s go in and get out of this rotten sunlight! Sunlight wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t so bright!
There’s a nice dining room in the front, but it looks like all the action is in the back. Lets go check it out.
There’s more tables back here and look, there's a bar in the back with seats right up front! Now we’re in business, let’s go get settled in.
Super-cute bartender, Laci serves up an ice-cold bottle of Budweiser and my mood is instantly elevated to: “great.” What a killer smile!
Steve was seated next to me and confirmed the fact that they serve up a great tenderloin in here.
Robbie, Terry and Rhonda were on the other side of the bar and they told me they’ve been coming here for years. Robbie told me the date of the building is posted next door, so we’ll have to check that out when we leave. People are really friendly here and this is a great place. All the food looks fantastic in here.
I love the red cups hanging over the bar, it’s bringing flashback memories of kegger parties in high school!
Here’s the beers on tap with plastic beer mugs floating around.
Amy’s here in the back in the kitchen, cooking up the tenderloin as I snap this photo. Love that Cheech and Chong shirt she’s got on!
Check out this vintage concert poster! Creedence Clearwater Revival with Bo Diddley and The Tower of Power opening up for them in the summer of 1971. I was just heading into 8th grade...my how the beers...I mean years have flown by.
They make homemade pizza at Pottsie’s and here’s Kassie preparing one. She makes a lot of dough at her job...oof! Sorry about that, it just couldn’t be helped!
Suddenly...crackers!
Meanwhile back at the bar, it appears it’s about time for the final tenderloin of this twenty week tour to be served up...
And here’s Laci serving it up with that award-winning smile of hers!
Wow, it looks fantastic. I need to do something here...
Tenderloin number twenty immortalized in mustard!
Okay, time to officially dress it up and try it out!
Very tasty, the breading is thin and crispy and nice and juicy inside, well worth the trip!
Okay, I’m officially stuffed. We’ll get this to go and...
Head out the door, thanks to Laci and everybody in Pottsie’s, it was a great and friendly place to end this Twenty Tenderloin Tour!
Night falls on Ipava, Illinois as I point the car towards Peoria and head homeward bound.
And here’s the last of the twenty tenderloins the next day, topped off with some of Kathy in Cleveland’s mustard. I’m going to do a wrap-up of this twenty week tenderloin tour and pick my favorite tenderloin next Tuesday, so stay tuned for that and we’ll see you all tomorrow!
Tenderloin Rating
Three Porky Pigs. They serve up a giant and tasty tenderloin at Pottsie’s and the other food there looks amazing! It’s well-worth the road trip to Ipava!
Pottsie’s Roadhouse
70 W Main Street
Ipava, Illinois
309-753-8434
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