Mirepoix
Mirepoix is old. Not in a precious way. Just genuinely old. Half-timbered houses lean in around the central square like they’ve been there since everyone agreed this was a good idea and then never bothered to revisit the decision. The history is obvious, but it’s been worn down by daily life, which makes it easier to like.
We arrived on market day, which felt less like an event and more like the town briefly revealing how it actually functions. Stalls everywhere. Bread, produce, meat, cheese. People lingering without urgency. It was warm, but the covered timbered arcades around the square kept everything shaded and civil. Sully had a great time weaving through legs and baskets, happy and completely unbothered, which felt like the right endorsement.
We ended up at La Maison des Consuls, tucked under the arcades on the square. It’s one of those places that feels like it’s always been there and sees no reason to explain itself. Tables pulled just far enough into the shade. Market noise drifting through. No pressure to do anything other than sit and let the day happen.
A few tables over, two guys were already well into their third pastis. It was still fairly early. The drinks looked innocent enough. Pale. Cloudy. Almost cheerful. It was hot, so I ordered one myself, purely out of curiosity. It arrived with a glass of water, which should have been a warning. It wasn’t. A few sips in, I realized I’d made a mistake. Pastis doesn’t announce itself. It waits. Then it reminds you who’s in charge.
Still, it felt right. Sitting there in the shade, market sounds echoing off the timbered beams, it became clear that Mirepoix is comfortable with its own rhythm. No rushing. No performing. Just people living the day they’re having.
There’s something fitting about the name, too. Mirepoix. A town that shares its name with a cooking technique built on fundamentals. Carrots. Onions. Celery. Nothing flashy. Just the base note you build everything else on.
Mirepoix doesn’t try to win you over.
It just shows you what it’s been doing all along
and lets you decide if that’s enough.