Ingredients:
4 slices bacon
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
1 pound slender asparagus spears, woody ends snapped off
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:
In a large frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, 7-10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Reserve the rendered fat in the pan.
In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallot, mustard, and thyme. Carefully pour the bacon fat through a fine-mesh sieve into a spouted measuring cup. Slowly whisk the bacon fat into the vinegar mixture until smooth and emulsified. Taste the dressing. If it is too strong, adjust with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon at a time.
Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill, preheat a gas grill to high, or heat a grill pan over high heat. Pat the asparagus dry and put on a platter or in a baking dish. Drizzle with the 2 tablespoons olive oil and roll the asparagus in the oil until well-coated. Season with salt. Arrange the asparagus directly over the heat on the grill rack or place in he pan and cook, turning as needed, until nicely browned in spots on all sides without burning, 6-8 minutes.
Crumble the bacon into small pieces. Arrange the asparagus spears on a plater, pour the dressing over, and scatter the bacon over the top. Top with a few grinds of papper and serve warm.