CPK Lakewood Gets “Next Chapter” Makeover
By Carla Snuggs

Posh Beauty Blog is all about taking wonderful things and making them even more beautiful. So when I was invited to visit the NEW California Pizza Kitchen in Lakewood, California, I was filled with excitement as this location recently unveiled its Next Chapter Makeover.   

Some of the highlights of CPKs Next Chapter Makeover include: a revamped menu with seasonal dishes and cocktails; modern, rustic design using sustainable materials; an outdoor patio with fire pit areas; and a fabulous happy hour menu! Lakewood is among the first to get this marvelous makeover and it will gradually roll out to other CPK locations across the country.

I have to admit, I hadn’t been to California Pizza Kitchen in a while, though I have always been a huge fan of their Two in a Bowl (two different soups of your choice in one bowl). When I arrived at the Lakewood location, I met General Manager Tina Thimen and Manager Chatara Sells. They took me on a thorough tour of CPK’s expanded food and cocktail menus and its contemporary new look. My beautiful mother, who is a great judge of both food and cocktails, joined me, and together we explored the new CPK.

Décor

 Lakewood CPK has been revamped to include rustic and vibrant décor made with sustainable materials. The oak floors and chairs are made from reclaimed wood. Even the fabrics, napkins and take out bags are made from recycled materials. From the beautiful stone countertops, to the natural herb garden and artwork celebrating local landmarks, the feel is very earthy and relaxing.

Most notable is the outdoor patio with a fire pit area that creates a very tranquil atmosphere.  

Food + Cocktails

Salads

We sampled the California Fields Salad (Fresh watermelon, strawberries, field greens, feta cheese and California pistachios with a housemade Champagne vinaigrette). This seasonal item was one of my mom’s favorites! Chatara recommended the Moroccan Spiced Salad and it did not disappoint. This salad was bursting with tasty and surprising ingredients like roasted butternut squash, dates, avocado, beets, and cranberries. Perk: This item contains gluten free ingredients.

Soups

The Farmers Market Soup and the Baked Potato Soup arrived; both are new to the menu. Our favorite was the Farmer’s Market Soup. We savored roasted butter nut squash and market veggies with a touch of cream and a drizzle of California evo. It was incredibly fresh and creamy and I just couldn’t get enough.

Appetizers

Next up was the Maine Lobster Flatbread, one of the new seasonal items which we enjoyed as an appetizer. It was remarkable - ample chunks of tender lobster salad with arugula and shaved red onions on a flavorful Parmesan flatbread.

Mains

From the moment I looked over the menu, I knew that I wanted to order the Fire-Grilled Ribeye with housemade Pinot Noir sea salt, topped with creamy bleu cheese butter. The steak was cooked perfectly to my order and was juicy and flavorful. My mom ordered the Shrimp Scampi Zucchini, a lower calorie take on traditional scampi with tender zucchini ribbons and does not skimp on flavor.

The Winner

Chatara said we could not leave without trying the Cedar Plank Salmon as it was one of her favorite CPK dishes. We’re so glad we did. North Atlantic Salmon is roasted to perfection on a cedar plank in CPK’s hearth oven and served with the most delicious white corn and spinach succotash and sprinkling of feta. The salmon was succulent, tangy and smoky.  This was, hands down, the best dish on the menu. Not only was it the most impressive dish we tried, but, it is under 700 calories. You get all of this amazing flavor without the guilt.

DessertO

Tina recommended the butter cake. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and perfect for sharing. Let me let you in on a little secret: This butter cake is just as good as the super expensive butter cake you’d get at Mastro’s, but much less expensive. I have been craving this dessert ever since!

Cocktails

My mom tried the California Crush – a beautiful blend of Absolute Mandarin and Citron, muddled mint and fresh orange and lemon. I was a little more daring and enjoyed a California Roots (pictured above), a creative blend of Vodka, fresh avocado, fresh mint and fresh agave sour with a fennel salt rim. It was very light, smooth and refreshing. Both make perfect summer to fall cocktails, perfect for sipping on their beautiful outdoor patio. I hope to try the Honeybee Lemonade (Jim Beam Honey and Fresh Lemonade) sometime.

Happy Hour

CPK Lakewood recently added a wonderful happy hour menu along with a sleek and sexy bar area with a fully stocked cocktail bar and fabulous high top tables. The happy hour menu features discounted prices on drinks and bites at the bar. You can also order Happy Pairings - California flatbread and a glass of wine or beer for $10 or less. The happy hour is offered Monday –Thursday from 3 to 6pm and then from 8:30 to close.

Philanthropy

Another thing I learned about CPK was about the amazing efforts CPk makes in our communities. For example, guests at CPK can round up their bills to the nearest dollar to help support Make-A-Wish. Also, the sales of each bottle of Colby Red sold at CPk help raise research dollars in support of charities that promote heart health. I invite you to take a look at all of the ways CPK supports the community by clicking here.

 Don’t forget to try CPK’s Lunch Duos where you can get a lunch sized pizza or half sandwich plus soup or salad, or soup and salad, for under $10.

Find a CPK near you: Cpk.com

Disclosure: This blog post was sponsored by CPK. All opinions are my own honest opinions.