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1. It all started in Beverly Hills.
Back in 1985, two former federal prosecutors Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax decided to switch tracks entirely and pursue their passion for food.
2. It gave Cali a new rep.
Rosenfield and Flax founded CPK with the goal of giving California a place in the pizza pantheon alongside 'za heavy hitters like Chicago and New York.
3. The original pizzas might surprise you.
The OG pies to make the docket were barbecue chicken, Thai chicken, and Jamaican jerk chicken. They have all been cooked in an open kitchen from the very beginning.
4. The menu is bigger than you think.
CPK is no one trick pony. In addition to topping pizzas with globally-inspired flavors it also totally upped its game with a giant list of pastas, soups, sandwiches, appetizers, and desserts. There are even tacos now. Tacos. And cedar-grilled salmon. Say what?
5. There are more than 270 locations across the world.
Spanning 30 states and 11 countries, California Pizza Kitchen restaurants can be found in big cities, suburban areas—plus kiosks in airports, sports stadiums, and even college campuses.
6. You can make CPK at home.
Find your favorite hand-tossed style pizzas in the freezer aisle at your local grocery store thanks to manufacturing and distributing by Nestlé's pizza division, which also includes top DIY pies like DiGiorno.
7. The rewards program is actually worth it.
To accrue points, you only have to spend $10 per visit. After three visits or spending $100, you can redeem a free entrée reward worth $15. Plus, you get access to free food and discounts that only members can partake in.
8. The gift cards never expire.
And you can buy and send them instantly via email. Oh hey, easiest birthday gifts ever.
9. It's not delivery—oh wait, it is.
A lot of customers don't realize that many California Pizza Kitchen locations actually deliver. Call ahead to ask about your location's delivery zone, then order all your go-to grub and have a CPK night in.
10. You can get CPK for your wedding.
Or any other big party. Thanks to a full-service, professionally staffed 35-foot mobile kitchen, Southern Californian residents can reap the benefits of CPK made fresh for their family reunions, megawatt birthdays, corporate events, and more—all for 200 or more people. The best part is the dishes can be made to order because the company has on-location ovens, sauté stations, and coolers. All you have to so is send an email.
11. The wine is always flowing.
In addition to an already pretty extensive wine list, CPK is now serving flights of sangria so you can sip your way through summer.
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