California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen
An International Phenomenon

Palm Desert, Palm Springs Restaurants - California Pizza Kitchen

Bright yellow canopies welcome you to the popular California Pizza Kitchen on glamorous El Paseo.

Since trading in their courtrooms for dining rooms in 1985, former federal prosecutors Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield have created one of the most popular, casual, full-service restaurant chains in the country. Friends and law partners for more than 30 years, they set out to expand culinary horizons. They wanted hearth-baked pizzas topped with everyone’s favorite ingredients.

The California Pizza Kitchen menu is more exciting than ever. The Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza is back by popular demand (see photo below), joined by some new creations: the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, grilled chicken marinated in spicy Buffalo sauce with Mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheeses, carrots, celery and served with a side of Gorgonzola dressing; Sonora Egg Rolls, grilled lime chicken, roasted corn and black bean salsa, two cheeses, chiles, and green onions, wrapped in a crispy wonton roll; Asparagus and Spinach Spaghettini; and Pesto Cream Penne Pasta.

In their upcoming third cookbook, California Pizza Kitchen Family Cookbook, co-founders and co-CEOs Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfi eld show families how to prepare pizzas, kids’ favorites, and other CPK specialties from the comfort of their own kitchens. These crowd-pleasing recipes bring the CPK experience home, and are perfect for relaxed family meals and special celebrations alike. Best of all, each of the nearly 50 recipes is simple to prepare, which means the whole family can have fun helping out in the kitchen. One hundred percent of all cookbook royalties are distributed to various children’s charities across the country.

CPK has something for everyone, starting with great food at moderate prices, served by an expert staff. Vegetarians and healthconscious patrons can choose from meatless, cheeseless pizzas. Traditionalists enjoy CPK’s Sweet and Spicy Italian Sausage Pizza and their thin crust Sicilian pizza. The award-winning CPKids menu features child-size pizzas, pastas, and desserts.

Want your pizza without cheese? No problem. Without chicken? That’s fine too. Just bring an appetite. CPK was voted “Best Pizza in the Desert” in a Palm Springs Life reader’s choice poll. The Palm Springs and Palm Desert restaurants both open at 11 a.m. All menu items are available for dine-in and take-out. Both locations offer CPK’s Curbside Service; have the restaurant’s curbside server deliver your order right to your car.

Palm Springs, Palm Desert Restaurants - California Pizza Kitchen

SHOWN ABOVE: A tempting selection of the newest hot items on the menu at California Pizza Kitchen. Clockwise from the bottom — Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza, caramelized pears, Gorgonzola, Fontina, and Mozzarella cheeses, caramelized sweet onions, and chopped hazelnuts, topped with field greens tossed in Gorgonzola ranch dressing; Ginger Salmon, pan-sautéed Atlantic salmon topped with chopped cilantro, green onions, and a sweet ginger sauce, served with wok-stirred mixed vegetables (shown here) or wok-stirred Mandarin noodles, snow peas and sesame seeds; and Asparagus and Spinach Spaghettini, a light pasta with sautéed asparagus, spinach, fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. You may also add a grilled chicken breast. Suggested accompaniments are beer on tap or Pinot Grigio.

“CPK’s recipe for success mixes terrific service with great-tasting pizzas, pastas, and more. It’s a winner!”

MENU HIGHLIGHTS

PIZZAS
Original BBQ Chicken Pizza
Thai Chicken Pizza
Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza
The Works Pizza

PASTAS
Kung Pao Spaghetti
Jambalaya
Portobello Mushroom Ravioli
Pesto Cream Penne

SALADS
BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad
Waldorf Chicken Salad
Miso Seafood Salad
Thai Crunch Salad
Mediterranean

SOUPS & SANDWICHES
Dakota Smashed Pea and Barley Soup
Sedona Tortilla Soup
Grilled Rosemary Chicken Focaccia Sandwich

DESSERTS
Key Lime Pie
Apple Crisp
Chocolate Soufflé Cake
Tiramisú

BEST OF THE CELLAR

RED WINES
Rodney Strong Cabernet
Kendall Jackson “Vintner’s Reserve,” Pinot Noir
Blackstone, Merlot

WHITE WINES
Estancia Pinot Grigio
Kendall-Jackson “Vintner’s Reserve,” Chardonnay
Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN

• 73-080 EL PASEO COLLECTION
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260
(760) 776-5036
More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions

• 123 NORTH PALM CANYON DRIVE
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262
(760) 322-6075
More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions

BY CATHERINE RIPS
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARTHUR COLEMAN / ASSISTANT: TIM CARTER
FOOD STYLIST: ROLAND BIERI