CPK California Pizza Kitchen Philippines recently launched its new menu for this year 2017 highlighting and staying true to California uniqueness, creativity, inventiveness, and ingenuity. Tagged with the phrase "Seek the Unique", CPK PH's new menu boasts of new line-up of pizzas, pastas, salads, and get this - rice meals!
Fervent requests to include rice meals on CPK's menu have been heard and answered. Now, not only we can enjoy the usual suspects of pizza and pasta at CPK, we can also celebrate our innate love for rice as well while dining at CPK.
Of course, just like all other grubs on the menu, the rice meals are not without the touch of intrinsic California identity known for California Pizza Kitchen.
There are several new dishes added on the menu it would be impossible to try everything in one go. During the media launch, we were able to sample some of these new items. First on the table was the Fruit Salsa and Tortilla Tzatziki (Php375) which is essentially a combination of mixed greens tossed in fresh orange herb vinaigrette topped with housemade fruit salsa served with blue corn tortillas and tzatziki cucumber dip. Both refreshing and filling at the same time.
Next was the Quinoa and Arugula Salad (Php475/full, Php275/half) a super-grain salad with asparagus, sun-dried toamatoes, red onions, toasted pine nuts and Feta cheese. Everything tossed in housemade honey dijon vinaigrette. I love almost all salad at CPK and this one is a welcome addition. I love that the new menu is gearing towards healthy options just like this salad.
If one fancy something spicy, the Chicken and Sausage Fajita (Php495) come as highly recommended. But fear not, it does not have the kind of spiciness that assaults the taste bud, rather, it has the kind that tickles. It got smoked sausage, grilled chicken, tri-colore peppers and jalapeno with spinach fettuccine mixed in roasted garlic cream sauce. I love cream-based pasta so this one was a sure winner for me. Added points for being so pleasantly spicy.
One of the newest pizza additions to the menu is the Foriana Roasted Walnut and Cauliflower (Php575) A must-try healthy pizza that boasts of rustic Mediterranean Foriana sauce, Queso Quesadilla, Mozzarella, cauliflower florets, red and yellow bell peppers and red onions. Personally, I like this one because it tasted primarily of roasted vegetable. Without meat but not really vegan because of the cheeses it got. Nonetheless, if I want something light and a little healthy than my usual choices, I would gladly have this pizza again.
Another pizza that I find downright likeable was the Surf and Turf Trio (Php650/regular, Php325/personal) which comprised of poached shrimps with crisp bacon and salami slices, queso quesadilla, mozzarella, tomatoes, and asparagus. There is nothing to not like about this pizza especially if you are a meat-lover.
Now onto the rice meals at CPK. Currently, there are five rice meals on the menu. And to cater to those who are keeping their intake at bay, the rice can be upgraded to quinoa for an additional Php45 pesos.
I got to try two of these rice meals and the first one was Sweet Flame Shrimp (Php385) sauteed sweet and spicy shrimps served with mango-cucumber salsa and fresh cilantro. Spicy but refreshing, this dish is perfect for those who loves their plump shrimps with a little kick.
Another rice dish was the Chicken and Asparagus in Lemon Cream Sauce (Php345) fried chicken breast fillet smothered with Piccata cream sauce and served with asparagus, cherry tomatoes and black olives. I have underestimated this dish thinking that it is your usual chicken fingers served with rice, but lo and behold it is more than that in terms of flavors. Will definitely have this again on my next visit.
For the dessert, we had one of the new dessert item on the menu, the Hazelnut Brownie Ala Mode (Php365) a rich and warm brownie made with Nutella. Your well-loved brownie ala mode, only several notch higher than that of the usual.
There are also several new beverages on the menu but what stood out for me, simply because I love its clean taste was the Honey Basil Lemon Shake (Php225). If you fancy a beverage that doubles as a dessert, some of the highly recommended are Mango-Lemon Cheesecake Shake and Cheesecake with Oreao Cookies Shake.
To know more about the new menu items at California Pizza Kitchen Philippines, you may check out their website at cpk.com.ph and you may also follow them on their Facebook and Instagram (@cpkphilippines) accounts.
You may also visit any of their following branches: 2nd level Alabang Town Center, Ground Level W Global Center at BGC, 2nd level Greenbelt 5, Ground level Promenade 3 Greenhills, Ground level SM Mall of Asia, Basement level Century CityMall, and at the 2nd level of Shangri-La Plaza Mall East Wing.
