Californa Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen [CPK] is probably one of the best places I've eaten so far. And the thing is, I grew up in California my whole life and have never gone to CPK this entire time?!  Better late than never.

is it better to have eaten at California Pizza Kitchen, than to never have eaten California Pizza Kitchen at all...?
The question seems a bit harder to answer, because I can definately live without it, but....

I also found out that despite the name, CPK has franchises all across the state and not just California. Go figure...

My picky lunch date (Sean). He needs a hair cut. Not only do I try to convince him to try new dishes, but I also try to convince him that I should be the one to cut his hair.

The last time I cut his hair, we were Sophomores in high school, and I accidently made him look like Willy Wonka ...since then, he's never made me forget that, BUT I never made him forget it.

We almost didn't end up in CPK because this picky boy assumed that they didn't have great pizza simply because he disliked their frozen store-bought pizza.

"I dig this place because it's like Denny's but better, because they have T.V and alcohol... oooh domestic beer!" oh boy...progress...progress.

I ordered the White Corn Guacamole & Chips. Holy moly, delicious.

I was slightly bummed it was small, but then again...I ordered it off the "small cravings" menu, har har. This time Seans picky attribute came in handy because it was all miiiiiine, muahaha. Apparently he dislikes avocados. muahah!

 I tried so hard to convince him to eat it anyway, fail.

You can see all the ingredients, so I need to re-create this.

So sweet and full of flavor.

It contained:

Fresh avocado, sweet white corn, black beans, jicama, green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro and serrano peppers served with blue & white corn tortilla chips.

Give me a moment while I try to remember savoring this...I can't remember, which means I need to go soon.

Then our food arrived.

We ordered the Carne Asada Pizza. The best decision ever!

Grilled steak, fire-roasted mild chilies, onions, cilantro pesto, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella cheeses.

Their Carne Asada alone was FULL of flavor. Very zesty.

Served with a side of tomatillo salsa and homemade roasted tomato salsa.

I wish I had the canny ability to recreate what I ate. Perhaps I need to enhance my tasting skills? Blind-fold myself everytime I eat? yeah? I am not talented enough to do so, some people can listen to music and produce the chorus on their guitar, but I want to produce the food I eat at resturants!

I do have a great sense of smell though, one time I asked if Sean burped because it smelled like acid stomach and soda, and he was impressed.

CPK has the best dough hands down. It was savory, buttery, sweet, soft, and delicious. I need to go back. Don't be suprised if you see another CPK post!

If you can recreate one dish from your favorite resturant, what would it be?

- I would love to re-create the veggie burger patties from burger lounge. mmmmm