Sauce Maven™
The story behind the award-winning Recipes-in-a-Bottle™ cooking sauces
Hi, I'm Natalie, The Sauce Maven!™ Why did I create my own line of sauces? One day, I opened the refrigerator door and it was lined full with sauces. Yet, none captured the flavors of my childhood growing up in the Bible Belt–juicy peaches, honeysuckle nectar, Vidalia Sweet Onion, and my grandma's tomato wedges marinated in sugar-vinegar brine. Using my own taste buds as a litmus test, I set out to fill the gap. Thus began the entrepreneurial journey that would earn me the nickname Sauce Maven.
​
Even though upholding high standards of quality, like being all-natural, using fresh rather than powdered ingredients, and avoiding cheap fillers like high-fructose corn syrup, poses challenges from higher small-batch production costs to shelf-life concerns, I did not want to sell anything that I would not give to Grandma or eat myself, especially since one of the sauces, You Saucy Thing™ Soy Ginger Vidalia stir fry, marinade and braising sauce was inspired by her cooking. All of the sauces must pass the grandma test and, after taste testing in the local school district cafeterias, also be kid approved!
​
To my delight, my sauces have earned many enthusiastic fans, from ages one to one hundred and from many different backgrounds. And apparently, the fans are sometimes more innovative than I am when using my sauces. Bloody Sweet Hottie Cocktail was inspired by an event I hosted at The Sea Island Resort by adding My Sweet Hottie™ Sweet Chili Peach Dressing & Marinade to a shot of vodka. My Indian neighbors drizzle my Wild Wild East™ Asian BBQ Teriyaki Pineapple sauce onto their samosas, pakoras--and hot dogs!
​
I try to make sure each of my sauces is truly a premium, authentic recipe in and of itself—a natural blend of a dozen fresh ingredients and spices all in one bottle, so when you shake it up, you are cookin’ up a storm. The one complaint I get is that using my sauces turns you into a lazy cook!
Keng is the creator of an award-winning line of Asian-inspired sauces (launched at Whole Foods Market)—Recipes-in-a-Bottle™-- that feature natural ingredients and harken heritage recipes, earning her the title The Sauce Maven™. She is the CEO "Chief Eating Officer" of Global Hearth™, a growing portal for unique food and culture experiences, gifts and all things saucy.