Voted as the best pulled pork in Iowa for 2023, Marshalltown’s The Flying Elbow claims top honors of the sixth-annual Pulled Pork Madness, a social media contest sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
Nearly 160 pork fans nominated 63 Iowa restaurants, which were then entered into a bracket-style competition, similar to the NCAA’s college basketball tournament.
“This contest is a way to attract new pork fans and encourages everyone to road trip around Iowa to try different restaurants that are serving up some of the best pork in the nation,” said Hannah Spurr, IPPA’s consumer outreach director, in the release.
The Flying Elbow has evolved from a wrestling-themed food truck starting in 2017 selling hot dogs and burgers. Then, in September 2021, the restaurant opened in its current location and began offering limited barbeque specials. After a recent upgrade to a 300-gallon wood-fired smoker, The Flying Elbow cooks pork shoulders “the traditional way, using old school techniques” – low and slow over oak and cherry wood.
“Gosh, what a cool honor,” said Garrett Goodman, owner of The Flying Elbow in the release. “Barbecue was kind of a Sunday tradition when I was growing up, and I love serving people the best food I can.”
Goodman heavily rubs the pork shoulders with salt, pepper and garlic, and then sprinkles with brown sugar to help form a flavorful crust that formed on the outside of the meat throughout the 11-hour cooking process.
The Flying Elbow’s “Classic Pulled Pork” is served with pickles and homemade barbeque sauce on a Hawaiian-style sesame seed burger bun or Texas toast. The meat can also be topped with coleslaw by request.
Other versions of the classic sandwich can be found on the menu, Goodman explained, including the “Pig Show” and “Razor’s Edge” options.
“Pulled pork is a versatile product — you just get such a great flavor and a nice juicy meat,” Goodman said. “We try to offer the classic versions of things for customers, but then also, I like to take classic ingredients and give them new life and use them different ways.”
The Flying Elbow currently averages about 120 pounds of pulled pork served per week.
The full list of the 2023 Pulled Pork Madness restaurants can be found here.
