Heartbeat Darkside of the Grill - Shiitake Szechuan

This is one of those sauces where you know from the first bite that it's made for grilling. The heat is moderate, nothing wild, but present enough to hold the whole flavor together nicely. First the mushrooms come - shiitake gives that umami, then the Sichuan pepper slowly makes its appearance and adds a slight "tingling" that lingers in your mouth. You really get the feeling that the sauce is already part of the dish. It works amazing on steaks, burgers or grilled vegetables, where it blends with the seared flavors.