The Culinary Tripod

I know someone whose stroke damage has caused some scrambling of her words. Still, her thoughts are clear, even if the word she sometimes comes up with isn't the one she wants. And sometimes her word mis-choices reveal that her thoughts are very much intact.

Once while trying to recall the word "mirepoix," the flavor triumvirate of classic French cooking, the word she said was "tripod." That's appropriate, since mirepoix is made of the three ingredients on which well rounded stocks, sauces and dishes are built. Onion, carrot and celery harmonize, each bestowing its unique sweetness, depth and body to the dish.

Mirepoix makes a sturdy, three-footed culinary foundation, so she's right. It IS a tripod!