A showdown of pork BBQ with Bobby Flay

Will Chesapeake’s Wood Chick, Lee Ann Whippen, kick Bobby Flay’s pork butt?

Hampton Roads food lovers will have to tune in at 10 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” as Whippen challenges the hot shot chef in a cookoff that took place on February 29 in Chesapeake. Airing on Mother’s Day, Whippen will watch the taped episode with her 10-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son along with others at Winston’s Raw Bar & Grill.

The TV contest pits “the award-winning Lady Pitmaster from Chesapeake” vs. Flay, famous for his Southwest cuisine restaurants, cookbooks and television shows. It’s a pulled pork tilt featuring Whippen’s “Wood Chicks Smoked Pork Butt” against Flay’s “Pulled Pork Sandwich w/ Black Pepper Vinegar Sauce & Green Onion Slaw.”

The two culinary artists faced off behind Whippen’s Cedar Road barbecue restaurant in Great Bridge. Whippen thought the Food Network crew was there to tape a new series called “Grillin’ Gals.” It was all a ruse.

“It was all pre-arranged by the Food Network,” Whippen said. “I thought it was for a new show.  It was all a set up.”

She said while she was discussing proper techniques for barbecue the crowd fell silent as Flay snuck in with his own smoker. He had heard of Whippen’s reputation and championship wins and challenged her at her expertise. The throwdown was on.

“We were watching each other while we cooked,” she said.

Did Flay get the Whippen of his life? Lee Ann said tune in Sunday.

“All I can say is I did my best to make Chesapeake proud.”

Eric Feber, 222-5203, eric.feber@pilotonline.com