Rubs, Sauces & Condiments

Rubs are mixes of spices (freshly ground, when possible), herbs, and seasonings that are massaged onto meats before the actual cooking—thus the term rub. A mop is a flavorful liquid, often vinegar based, that you brush or swab onto the meat while it cooks. The traditional way to apply it was to swab it on with a clean floor mop—and so the term mop. Like mops, flavored butters can be used for basting and slathering (they’re particularly good on grilled bread), and I never met a grilled steak that wasn’t improved by a golden dollop of flavored butter melting on top.