Love Me Tender

What's your favorite deep fried sandwich?  Two of mine would be the fried grouper from JB's Fish Camp in New Smyrna and the grouper at Winter Park Fish Company.  Both in Florida. 

But my very favorite deep fried sandwich is the pork tenderloin from anywhere in Indiana, served with a side of nostalgia.  

This morning, while reading my Indianapolis Monthly magazine,  I came upon this article about how ecstatic Hoosiers still are about the tenderloin.  Restaurants may vary the recipe a bit but it always consists of pounded pork tenderloin deep fried and served so that it extends three or so inches beyond the bun all the way around.  

When I was a teenager in the 50s we packed into cars and hung out at drive-ins.  (Think Ron Howard in American Graffiti or Happy Days.)  If we were lucky enough to have money we ate tenderloin sandwiches the car hop brought to the car on a tray that she attached to the window.   

The Tee Pee was one of the places where we hung out.  Probably would not be socially correct today but we were clueless teens in the 50s who loved to hang out and eat tenderloin sandwiches and listen to Elvis.  

So next time you're in Indiana ask somebody where to get one.  It doesn't matter who you ask.  Every Hoosier knows, including Jim Gaffigan.

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