Barbecue is one of the hottest food groups in the world at the moment, and pitmaster Lee Ann Whippen is bringing Tampa into the fold at her new Palma Ceia spot, The Deviled Pig. The former star of “BBQ Pitmasters” and “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” (who did, in fact, beat Bobby Flay with her pulled pork) has partnered with World Sandwich Champion chef Jennifer Daskevich and Tampa natives Jay Bickel and Larry Oliphant on the new location, where the focus is on quality smoked meats. “The Tampa area has so many food cornerstones, and yet smoked meats, which lead to all types of cool dishes, was missing,” Oliphant says. He notes that The Deviled Pig — a twist on the classic deviled crab with slow-smoked pork — has been an early hit, as have the half-pound smokehouse sandwiches. Whippen and sandwich pro Daskevich collaborated to create the restaurant’s signature sandwiches, which incorporate Tampa-inspired ingredients to create what Daskevich calls “the perfect bite.” “The perfect bite concept is behind all our sandwich creations at The Deviled Pig,” she says. “Starting off with Lee Ann’s award-winning smoked meats, we are able to create some real showstoppers.”
THE DEVILED PIG
3307 S. Dale Mabry Hwy.
(813) 766-1188
deviledpig.com
