Kanella
5-Course Athens Meets Istanbul Tasting Event
With its whitewashed walls, blue-and-white tablecloths, and streaming natural light, this beloved Washington Square eatery will make you feel like you’ve just docked on a Greek island. And that’s before you even taste the food, which represents a fusion of modern Turkish cuisine native to Kanella's new Chef/Owner, Tayfun Abuska, and the award-winning Greek cuisine that originally launched Kanella into the national spotlight. Here, Chef Abuska reinvents classic dishes like gyro, spanakopita, seared halloumi, and ground lamb kebabs, earning a place on Eater’s list of “38 Essential Philly Restaurants.” Building on the recipes of the previous Chef/Owner Konstantinos Pitsillides, Chef Abuska enriches the menu with flavors of Turkey, which makes sense as was born in Turkey. Most recently, he cooked at José Andrés renowned DC eatery, Zaytinya, where he perfected his technique for dishing up traditional Eastern Mediterranean small plates, and at Delbar in Atlanta, where he mastered Persian cuisine. Now, at Kanella, he is at the top of his game, so much so that the Infatuation says, “We always find ourselves craving the food here.” We are eager to experience this brand new chapter in Kanella's evolution and hear from Chef Abuska about his life’s journey and his love of Turkish food.
About the Host:
Tayfun Abuska
Executive Chef/Co-Owner
Hailing from the Izmir region of Turkey, Chef Tayfun Abuska has 20+ years of culinary experience, starting as a teen in Turkey and then here in the US under chefs from Michelin Starred and well respected restaurants across the country - including under Chef Michael Mina at PABU Izakaya, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, under Chef Kelly McCown at Ella Dining Room in Sacramento, and under Chef Ruben Garcia at Minibar by Jose Andres in D.C. Most recently, he worked at Zaytinya in D.C. and at Delbar in Atlanta.
The Lineup
All courses will be individually plated.
-
Trio of Dips
esme | muhammara | mutabal, served with fresh pita
-
Chicken Pastilla
thin filo pastry stuffed with shredded chicken
-
Stuffed Eggplant
with vegetables, olive oil, and tomato sauce
-
Adana Kebab
ground lamb kebab with rice piav
-
Semolina Helva
with pismaniye and almonds
Kanella
1001 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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.
- Do guests need to be of a certain age to attend this event?
- Yes. All attendees must be 21+ to gain entry.
- Can I bring guests/non-members to this event?
- Yep! For this event, guest tickets are $80 + tax & tip, and you can bring up to 3 guests. Please note, guests are not allowed to attend unaccompanied by a member.
- What is the event ticket cancellation/refund policy?
- Tickets to our events are non-refundable. However, for emergency requests, we may allow members to transfer their tickets to friends, provided the guest ticket surcharge of $25 is paid when transferring a member ticket to a non-member. All ticket transfer requests (as well as the guest ticket surcharge) must be sent to us prior to the event. Any guests who have not paid the guest ticket surcharge will not be allowed entry.
- What must I bring to the event?
- Please make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID. Additionally, please note this restaurant is BYOB, so make sure to bring your own wine and/or beer if you'd like!
- 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 those with aversions to alliums or citrus. Please make sure to Update Your Dietary Restrictions within your Account Info before or after you purchase tickets, or email us at [email protected] after you purchase tickets to let us know what your allergies/restrictions are.
- What COVID safety precautions will be taken at this event?
- At this event, we will be accommodating all requests for separate tables rather than communal seating. Additionally, all food will be served individually-plated rather than family-style. As per local guidelines, as well as the restaurant’s own policy, attendees will not be required to present proof of vaccination for entry.
