Recipe for Reimagination at the New California Pizza Kitchen

The perks of working at a school with a year round schedule is that when most are just starting school, I'm already on vacation! Yes, it's Fall Break and I'm totally loving it!

One of the things I love to do when on vacation (and every other day at that) is eat! I'm always up for a great meal! Thanks to California Pizza Kitchen, hubby and I were able to try the company’s Recipe for Reimagination at its Solana Beach, California location. 

The restaurant has undergone a complete transformation, from the design and décor to the menu. The Solana Beach location is among the first in the country to roll out the new design and menu items, with other locations to follow.

“We are embracing our roots in culinary innovation and authenticity across the board, and every detail of our reimagination - including the design, food and service - is reflected in our Solana Beach restaurant,” says California Pizza Kitchen CEO GJ Hart. “We are excited to introduce this community to the future of our brand as we continue with this roll-out.”

The remodel incorporates flexible seating with fewer booths and more tables to comfortably accommodate a variety of diners and groups. New dishes, glassware and utensils further complement the upscale-yet-relaxed aesthetic. California’s environmental roots are evident in the use of unfinished reclaimed wood, and warm, inviting colors are used throughout. Elements such as a living herb wall inside the restaurant reflect a commitment to using fresh, local ingredients. The vibe in the restaurant was casual and very "SoCal"!

The staff was very excited to share the highlights of the new items on the menu. They were all very friendly, knowledgeable, and inspired with the new changes for CPK!

Here is hubby's Fire-Grilled Ribeye: A 12-oz. 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. It was tender, juicy, and everything a great steak should be!

I tried the Hearth-Roasted Halibut: Wild caught from the Aleutian Islands, roasted on a cedar plank with butternut squash farro and grilled asparagus. The flavors were rich and definitely made my tummy happy!

 Farmers Market Soup

 Fresh Strawberry Mango Cooler

We had a wonderful lunch with great food and the wonderful staff at CPK to make it an enjoyable experience overall! For more information on California Pizza Kitchen visit cpk.com. Follow them on Twitter @calpizzakitchen, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen and stay connected through http://instagram.com/californiapizzakitchen (#newcpk).

Although we received this meal compliments of CPK, all the opinions expressed are my own.