last year around this time, i went to a cool local restaurant called the populist with noelle and we did the chef’s tasting menu, and i wrote this post on our meal because i seriously loved it.  and then, when my parents came in july, the three of us went and i once again got to experience the chef’s tasting menu, only it was totally different since that menu changes all the time.  i loved it just as much the second time, and instead of it being a cold and snowy weeknight in february, we were there an early saturday night dinner on a gorgeous day in july.  it’s amazing how wonderfully quaint and cozy the restaurant was in february and how open and lovely it was in july with all the doors open to the patio outside.  such a contrast, yet fun on both occasions!  anyway, i thought i would share some photos from restaurant along with the tasting menu since the chef does such a creative job of putting it together:

{if you checked out my other post, you will definitely have seen the difference in the vibes from winter to summer!}

{i always love an open-air feel on a nice day.}

{and this patio is to die for.}

{see what i mean??}

{good vibes here.}

{course #1:  duck liver mousse with cherries, hazelnuts, fennel, and flax cracker.  this was our least favorite course if i’m being honest.  in some cases, we don’t mind a little foie gras but we much preferred the other courses following this one.  which is a good thing, i suppose!  and it was still a nice presentation and assortment of flavors.}

{course #2:  amaranth & lovage salad with pepita & pistachio butter, jalapeño, and feta.  that pepita & pistachio butter was so interesting and good!  we loved this salad.}

{course #3:  crispy kampachi with smoked tomato water, gai ian, and white beans.  the white beans were actually raw [or at least partially?  they were very crunchy] and marinated, which was unlike anything i’ve ever tasted.}

{course #4:  cornmeal ricotta gnudi with sweet corn, hen of the woods, sage, and melon.  this was delicious, and those melon pieces were very unusual and tasty.  i wasn’t quite sure how they made them, but they weren’t ordinary melon!}

{course #5:  intermezzo of cucumber rose water “bon bon.”  an extremely mild and unique sorbet – the perfect palette cleanser.}

{course #6:  bone-in berkshire pork chop with black trumpet tapenade, plum, and kohlrabi.  the combination of flavors here was awesome, and the pork chop was perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked.}

{course #7:  triple crème with sunchokes, genepy, peach, and saffron.  i love peaches anyway, and this was just divine.}

{course #8:  huckleberry tartlet with hibiscus sorbet, granola, beet & white chocolate ganache.  aren’t the colors beautiful?  it was yummy.}

 yep, the populist did it again!  we had a great experience.  and thank you mom and dad for the amazing dinner!  you guys are some of my favorite dining partners. :)