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Health & Fitness

California Pizza Kitchen Introduces Gluten-Free Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen sells 14.5 million pizza pies a year but up to now the 28-year-old restaurant organization has not offered gluten-free pizza to its customers.

Odd perhaps for an eatery with "pizza" as part of its name. 

That changes this week with the arrival of four different gluten-free pizzas: barbecue chicken, pepperoni, mushroom pepperoni sausage and Margherita. (The restaurant group has been serving gluten-free food just not gluten-free pizza.) 

Also available for a very limited time at the Scarsdale location is a $30 "Sweet Deal for Two" which includes four pizzas among ten entrées but none gluten-free. Hurry to take advantage, Scarsdale assistant general manager Yvonne Spotts said, as the deal ends on Thursday, October 3. 

More details for the new gluten-free pizzas:

  1. Original barbecue chicken. Smoked Gouda, red onions, cilanto, barbecue sauce (1240 calories, $15.25); Nueske's applewood smoked bacon can be added (133 calories, an extra $1.50)
  2. Pepperoni. Mozzarella and wild oregano (1290 calories, $14); with white truffle oil (1330 calories, an extra $1.50)
  3. Mushroom pepperoni sausage. Cremini mushrooms, pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, torn basil, mozzarella and wild oregano (1370 calories, $15.50)
  4. Margherita. italian tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and parmesan (1510 calories, $14.75)
The four gluten-free pizzas are prepared using procedures approved by The Gluten Intolerance Group.

Sweet Deal for Two

The $30 Sweet Deal for Two consists of one appetizer out of six available, two entrées out of ten offered and one dessert from a list of five. Besides pizza, entrées  include chicken with fettuccine or spaghetti, spaghetti Bolognese and a variety of salads including a barbecue chicken chopped salad. Appetizers include a generous portion of sesame ginger chicken dumplings and desserts include key lime pie and tiramisu.

The restaurant's regular pizzas can be ordered with an alternative gluten-free crust however patrons are warned that they try these pizzas at their own risk. 

A notification on the menu states, "Any of our pizzas may be made on a gluten-free crust for an additional $2.00, but due to our current kitchen space, only the (four) pizzas listed above can be prepared using GIG's certified procedures. Please note that normal kitchen operations involve shared cooking and preparation areas and guests should consider individual dietary needs when ordering."

The California Pizza Kitchen in Scarsdale is part of a 260 full-service restaurant chain with locations in the U.S.A. and 51 other countries. Selections of the company's products are also available in airports, sports stadiums and colleges. Selected CPK wares, made by Nestle, can be found on grocery shelves.  

CEO Gerard J. Hart said recently that the company will be making changes as it enters "its next chapter" of "daring to be different" that affect the food being served and call for remodeling of facilities to use reclaimed wood and create a more open look for greater ambiance.

The Gluten Intolerance Group, 31214 124th Ave SE, Auburn, WA  98092, 253-833-6665, www.gluten.net

California Pizza Kitchen (in the Archway Mall at Scarsdale), 365 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, 914-722-0600. The restaurant opens seven days a week at 11 a.m. It closes at 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and Sunday. Closes at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

California Pizza Kitchen (corporate), 12181 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista, CA, 90094, 310-342-5000, www.cpk.com
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