Oct. 2, 2024

Crawford’s Bar & Grill has won it again.

The downtown restaurant was awarded the 2024 title of champion in the fourth annual Downtown Pork Showdown.

The winning dish was Bourbon Apple Pork: a grilled pork tenderloin, smoked and braised pork belly, housemade apple butter, bourbon apple gastrique, mashed potatoes, cinnamon bourbon apples, smoked carrots, pickled onions, spiced pecans and cranberry apple caviar.

It will remain on the menu until next year.

Crawford’s also won last year’s Downtown Pork Showdown.

Voters judged this year’s entries based on use of pork, flavor, tenderness, presentation and customer service.

The monthlong event generated more than $140,000 of direct sales in pork dishes, with 26 participating restaurants. There were more than 600 dishes of the winning entree sold, according to Crawford’s.

The contest is sponsored by the South Dakota Pork Producers.