Don’t you dare call it “over the hill.”
On March 27, California Pizza Kitchen kicked off its 40th birthday by bringing back fan-favorite dishes, upgrading its “Thank You Card” promotion that rewards every customer and more.
To usher in its new 40-something era, CPK tapped former employee and “Girls5eva” star Busy Philipps, who appears in a new ad that pokes fun at the restaurant’s mid-life crisis.
“I’ve been a huge fan of CPK ever since I worked there as a hostess back in the day, so of course I was thrilled to help them celebrate this incredible anniversary,” Philipps said in a press release.
CPK’s seasonal menu features some fan favorites
The restaurant chain is also bringing back some of its most iconic dishes from the last four decades for a limited time. CPK says that these items were hand selected by guests, employees, its executive chef Paul Pszybylski and also its founders Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax.
Now through May 19, customers can grab the following returning items:
- Rosemary Roasted Potato & Grilled Chicken Pizza: Chosen by founders Rosenfield and Flax, this pizza features a lemon cream sauce, grilled chicken, roasted Yukon gold potatoes, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, finished with fresh rosemary and Greek oregano.
- Chicken Milanese: Chosen by Chef Paul, this dish serves panko-crusted chicken breast with arugula and housemade checca, a sauce with tomato and basil. This item is finished with Parmesan and fresh lemon.
- Waldorf Chicken Salad: Staff members chose to bring back this salad, which has a mix of field greens, grilled chicken, red grapes, Granny Smith apples, celery, candied walnuts and Gorgonzola. This salad is tossed in the choice of Dijon balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing.
- Tortilla Spring Rolls: This item, picked by customers, features hand-rolled flour tortillas stuffed with the choice of a Baja Chicken, Thai Chicken or Mediterranean filling. These rolls are then baked to perfection in a pizza oven.
CPK’s Thank You Card promotion
CPK says its most popular promotion is returning in tandem with its 40th birthday: Thank You Cards.
Now through May 11, every adult guest receives a Thank You Card whether they are dining in-restaurant, getting takeout or delivery. Every guest is a winner, and each card contains a hidden prize to be revealed at the next visit, which the brand says includes meal discounts, gift cards or cash prizes up to $40,000.
From March 2 until June 8, customers can visit any full-service CPK location with an unopened Thank You Card to have their prize revealed by a restaurant manager.
CPK is also offering fans a second chance to win online by scanning the QR code on their card and joining CPK rewards. The prize is an instant $5 bonus and the chance to win a five-day cruise getaway.
