Forsythia
5-Course Modern French Dinner Event
Opened in August of 2019 in Old City, Forsythia is, in the words of Philadelphia magazine, “a perfectly realized modern French bistro.” That means roasted duck with apricots, carrots, and cardamom jus, pumpkin and truffle beignets, escargots in tomato butter, foie gras mousse, steamed mussels, and other Gallic delights. Chef Chris Kearse earned his stripes cooking at Charlie Trotter’s, The French Laundry, and other top spots, and, for seven years, owned and operated the well-loved Will on East Passyunk Avenue. Two months after closing Will, he opened Forsythia—and survived the worst of the pandemic. Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant reviewer Craig LaBan says, “[Forsythia] deserves to become a citywide destination.” Its warm and delicious home cooking (if your home cook happened to be a fantastic French chef) served up in a lovely space that melds French country with industrial-modern explains why Eater Philly named Forsythia to its 2023 "38 Essentials" List
About the Host:

Christopher Kearse
Executive Chef & Owner
After graduating as valedictorian from the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Chef Kearse honed his craft at Charlie Trotter's, Tru, Alinea, and The French Laundry. Prior to Forsythia, he served as Chef de Cuisine at Pumpkin in Rittenhouse Square before opening Will BYOB in 2012. He has been named “Best New Chef” by Philadelphia Magazine, a Rising Star by StarChefs, and a James Beard Semi-Finalist in 2013 & 2014.
The Lineup
Each course will be plated individually.
-
Scallop Crudo
with winter radish, dill, and cider
-
Escargot
with chartreuse-almond butter, butternut squash, and pumpernicke
-
Pumpkin Rigatoni
with duck heart ragout, rosemary, and pecorino
-
Monkfish Osso Buco
with chorizo, white beans, and mussels
-
Spiced Cider Crumb Cake
with hazelnut toffee and cherry cremeux
Forsythia
233 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19105
Event FAQs
- Do I have to bring printed tickets to the event?
- No tickets are needed.
- What does the ticket price cover?
- The ticket price covers the full cost of the meal.
- What must I bring to the event?
- Please make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID.
- Do guests need to be of a certain age to attend this event?
- Yes. All attendees must be 21+ to gain entry.
- What dietary restrictions/food allergies can be accommodated at this event?
- At this event, we will be able to accommodate all dietary restrictions and food allergies except for dairy allergies. Please make sure to Update Your Dietary Restrictions within your Account Info before or after you purchase tickets, or email us at support@tastingcollective.com after you purchase tickets to let us know what your allergies/restrictions are.
- What is the event ticket cancellation/refund policy?
- Restaurants purchase the food for our events 14 days before the event date, at which point we are on the hook for the cost of your ticket. As such, we are not able to offer refunds (or credits towards future events) for any cancellation requests submitted within 14 days of the event date. We will, however, issue full refunds for all cancellation requests submitted at least 14 days before the event date. All cancellation requests must be submitted via email to support@tastingcollective.com.
- What qualifies as valid proof of vaccination?
- To verify that you are fully vaccinated, and gain entry to the event, you must present to our event lead any one of the following forms of proof: your original physical vaccination card, a clearly legible photo of your original vaccination card, or the CLEAR Health Pass App. Please note, you will be only be considered “fully vaccinated” if it has been at least 14 days since you've received either (a) a second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, or (b) a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More questions about this? Contact us at support@tastingcollective.com
- Can I bring guests/non-members to this event?
- Yep! For this event, guest tickets are $85 + tax & tip, and you can bring up to 3 guests. Please note, guests are not allowed to attend unaccompanied by a member.