California Pizza Kitchen: Fancy Navajo Foodie Favorites

I recently was invited to my local California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) to try out their new Cauliflower Pizza Crust. As an avid pizza lover, this was right up my alley! I honestly had not been to a California Pizza Kitchen restaurant before, but in college I was a big fan of their frozen BBQ Chicken pizza. It was the perfect treat after a long day at school. However, my metabolism for pizza has changed since my early 20’s.

As I enter my 30’s, I am always looking for healthier alternatives for my favorite foods. So, I was intrigued when I learned about CPK’s new Cauliflower Pizza Crust which is a low carb alternative to traditional pizza crusts.  Say what? I had so many questions. Would I be able to taste a difference? Would it still have a nice crunch to the crust? (Which in my opinion is the best part of any pizza.) Hahaha! I was pleasantly surprised and I can’t believe I hadn’t eaten at CPK before.

When we arrived at CPK it was very bright and cheery. I am sucker for open kitchens and I was happy to see all the chefs hustling and bustling in the kitchen. I always feel like I am in a movie when I see open kitchens and it adds to my dining experience. Right off the back I was excited to see what was to come next.

Girl, was I in for a surprise! I have never seen so much food in my life and all of it looked and smelled good. Every food item looked like it came right out of a magazine, ready to be photographed by me. Which by the way, if you ever dine with me, be prepared for a mini photoshoot with my food. Rightfully so, this food needed to be photographed, as a lot of time and care goes into every dish. CPK is not a fast food restaurant. All of their ingredients are sourced for the best quality and everything is made fresh onsite. As a foodie and home cook, I appreciate this!

I brought along my Instagram bestie, Jennifer Hubbell, and we started off with drinks and appetizers. The drinks were colorful and refreshing! We tried the Cucumber Reviver and the Fresh Strawberry Mango Cooler. I personally enjoyed the Cucumber Reviver which had freshly puréed pineapple, cucumber, and mint. The star of the meal was the Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower!!!  They were crunchy, spicy, and the sauce was cooling. They tasted just like regular chicken wings, but they weren’t!! What? I’m going back to CPK just for these!

Now onto the moment of truth. The Cauliflower Pizza Crust!!! We tried the Thai Chicken, California Veggie, and Pepperoni pizzas. I love how CPK offers a variety of pizza toppings from the traditional Pepperoni to the more daring like the Thai Chicken. The California Veggie had broccolini and eggplant, and I have never seen a healthier pizza in my life. Hahaha!  I took one bite of the Thai Chicken and quickly fell in love. It was soo good and I couldn’t believe the crust was made out of cauliflower. There was no compromise in taste. Yes! It was delicious and the best part low in carbs!! The other two pizzas were just as good, even the one with the broccolini.

As if we were not full at this point, we were greeted with the most amazing Strawberry Shortcake!! It was almost as big as my head and as soon as I locked eyes with it, I wanted to eat it right then and there. Shortcake biscuits, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream…need I say more? I could see myself coming back here to share this dessert with my girlfriends. It’s such a nostalgic dessert and big enough to share with your whole table.

With bellies full and a few take out boxes I was planning my next return. A huge thank you to California Pizza Kitchen at Chandler Mall for hosting me! Head on over to my Instagram to win a $25 gift card to your local CPK.

If you don’t already, make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. Want to read my previous Fancy Navajo Foodie Favorite? Read it here.

*My visit was sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen. All opinions are my own.