By Lynette Carrington

On May 15, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) rolled out a brand new look and some tantalizing new dishes and cocktails that further expand on its brand that is well known for its quality pizzas, entrees, salads and desserts. The Biltmore CPK was chosen as the first Arizona location to get the "restaurant facelift." The new look is highlighted by warm woods and an upscale-yet-rustic feel that features a bright open concept kitchen showcasing the staff who is always hard at work. Systematically, the new CPK look and menu will be introduced at all Arizona locations in the coming months.

The new CPK menu offers unique and seasonal flavor combinations in salads, pizzas, appetizers and entrees. New dishes include the Harvest Kale Salad, Sunnyside Up Bacon + Potato Pizza and distinctly upscale options like Fire-Grilled Ribeye and Hearth-Roasted Halibut. More than 80 Lunch Duos offer affordable made-to-order combinations. For those with specific dietary restrictions, CPK also has options that are under 650 calories, vegetarian/vegan, or gluten free. No matter who is dining in your group-there will be something delicious and appealing for every flavor palate.

Let's take a look at some of the new entrees and drinks that are on the new CPK menu!

	Roasted Garlic Chicken and Seasonal Vegetables - Crispy-skin chicken breast in lemon-garlic sauce with hearth-roasted fingerling potatoes, heirloom carrots, cauliflower and Mediterranean herbs. Out of all the new entrees, this one was my absolute favorite. It was a dish that expertly combines a variety of flavors and textures and remains a light but satisfying entrée. BRAVO!
Hearth-Roasted Halibut - Wild-caught halibut from the North Pacific, roasted on a cedar plank with grilled asparagus and butternut squash farro and baby kale. This entrée was also very unique as you don't typically see halibut showcased in such an upscale manner. The butternut squash really adds a nice pop of sweet to the dish, too.
	Fire-Grilled Ribeye - 12oz USDA choice Ribeye grilled with housemade Pinot Noir sea salt and topped with creamy bleu cheese butter. Served with roasted fingerling potatoes and lemon-garlic arugula salad. Ooh, la, la! The rib eye is tender, juicy and flavorful and the creamy bleu cheese butter introduces a slightly sassy tang to the meat.
Blueberry Ginger Smash - Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Monin Organic Agave Nectar, Domaine de Canton Ginger, Fresh Blueberries and Lime, Cranberry Juice. I simply loved this drink. The sweet and spicy piece of Domaine de Canton Ginger was a nice zing-y way to finish off the drink.

Other Drink Favorites included the California Crush -Absolut Mandrin, Absolut Citron, Muddled Mint with Fresh Orange and Lemon. This is about as summertime as you can get. Can I hire the bartender to come make this drink for me at home? And the Honeybee Lemonade - Jim Beam Honey and Fresh Lemonade. This is a refreshing drink with a fun little "sting." This is a nice drink that will tantalize your naughty side.

About California Pizza Kitchen
In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. Since then, CPK has launched what has become a global brand known for creative California cuisine. Today, CPK has 271 restaurants in 15 countries and 208 cities around the world, and has served over 15 million pizzas to more than 43 million guests. Dedicated to a unique dining experience, CPK is now introducing its Next Chapter, featuring re-imagined menus, open kitchens, and unique renovations in select restaurants across the country. Recently, California Pizza Kitchen was recognized by "Entrepreneur Magazine's" readers' survey as one of The 120 Most Trusted Brands. For more information on California Pizza Kitchen, visit www.cpk.com .

California Pizza Kitchen locations:

Biltmore Fashion Park

2400 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
(602) 553-8382

Desert Ridge Marketplace
21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix
(480) 473-3336

Scottsdale
10100 Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
(480) 596-8300

Tempe Marketplace
2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe
(480) 967-0498

Dana Park
1850 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa
(480) 558-7505