The secret's out: Chesapeake pit master won BBQ throwdown with Bobby Flay

By Theresa Curry

Correspondent

As promised, she kept it a secret for nearly three months, but now the word is out: Chesapeake pit master Lee Ann Whippen won the pulled pork "throwdown" staged by Bobby Flay and the Food Network in late February.

Whippen is the owner of Wood Chicks BBQ in Chesapeake and winner of many local, state and national awards including the first place in pork at the Chesapeake Jubilee's recent BBQ Cookoff.

The pulled pork episode of "Throwdown With Bobby Flay" has aired on the Food Network the last few weeks, meaning Whippen can publicize her victory. She remembers the live event with a lot of satisfaction.

"It was great working with him. It's just like it appears on television - a total surprise." Whippen said she thought all the cameras and sound equipment arriving were for the second day of shooting a network special on women barbecue champs. The difference between the first day and the "throwdown" was surprising, she said. "Bobby was so calm and spontaneous it was impossible not to relax and have fun."

Flay is known for his grilling, but his normal style is fast and fiery, while Whippen is a master of the slow and smoky technique that makes tender, flavorful barbecued pork. Flay slowed down appropriately for the throwdown, taking about eight hours to finish his pulled pork sandwich with black pepper vinegar sauce and green onion slaw.

"His pulled pork was interesting, but he used a rub based on dry mustard, and there was not enough sweetness to balance it," Whippen said. "The judges mentioned the sweet notes - from the apple wood and the apple juice - in my pulled pork." Both pulled pork recipes are on the Food Network Web site at www.foodnetwork.com.

Whippen was serving "BBQ Sundaes" at the Pungo Strawberry Festival in Virginia Beach last weekend. She said the layers of beans, slaw and pulled beef or pork in a cup are easy to eat and preferred by those who don't especially like the taste of the bun. She served up traditional sandwiches and platters, too.

Wood Chicks now has a second store in Chesapeake, at 1025 N. Battlefield Blvd. The original Wood chicks BBQ is at 1620 Cedar Road, Suite 111.

Theresa Curry, flavor@pilotonline.com