IF you’re still thinking that pizza is the only thing that’s good at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), better go out and drop by any of its outlets in the Metro. With 25 new dishes, CPK is emphasizing not just the pizza part of its name but, more important, California, where East and West have long met.

“CPK has always been a leader as far as new Californian style of cooking. When we say Californian, it’s a melting pot of different tastes and flavors. So we always have influences like Asian, Mediterranean and American cuisines. So these are the ones that inspire or guide us in creating our recipes,” says Gina Salazar, senior operations director of CPK Philippines.

Developed at its global kitchen using only the top local and imported ingredients, CPK Philippines’ latest offerings come in wide array of choices—from appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, specialties to desserts.

Those with more Asian tastes may opt to order Oriental-inspired dishes such as Roasted Duck Pizza, Japanese Karaage, and Korean BBQ Steak Tacos.

Those who crave for classic Western entrées are well served with Spicy Seafood Spaghetti Arrabbiata and Four Seasons Pizza.

Seafood lovers will enjoy the Dynamite Seafood, Baby Clam Linguini, Smoked Salmon Pasta and Pizza, Spicy Seafood Pizza or the Black Pepper Shrimp Pizza.

Meanwhile, the Spicy Voodoo Vodka Fettuccine and Roasted Duck Salad can be had either as an appetizer or main course.

With the health-conscious in mind, CPK also offers veggie choices, such as Pumpkin Soup, Moroccan Chicken Salad, Mixed Vegetable Pizza and Roasted Artichoke and Spinach Pizza.

Dessert? Guests can try out sinful treats like S’mores Dessert Pizza, Passion Fruit Bliss, Banana Foster, Passion Fruit Yogurt Mousse and the instant favorite, Mud Pie made with Oreo.

Some of the new dishes also come in personal sizes, especially the salads, pastas and pizzas. According to Salazar, this portioning strategy has allowed CPK to bring down the prices from P500 to P400.

“This is because we wanted to be more affordable to the market, and people would have to be more adventurous,” she explains. “Since the new menu had a soft launch last July 24, the feedback has been very good. In fact, they have come to like the personal servings because they can order other stuff. They’ve been so excited with the 25 new offerings,”

Available for a year, CPK has branches at Glorietta 3, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, TriNoma, Greenhills Promenade Mall, Power Plant Mall and Greenbelt 5.

(Roderick L. Abad)